public function is_empty_area() {
        if ($this->lf->get_filepath() === '/' and $this->lf->get_filename() === '.') {
            // test the emptiness only in the top most level, it does not make sense at lower levels
            $fs = get_file_storage();
            return $fs->is_area_empty($this->lf->get_contextid(), $this->lf->get_component(), $this->lf->get_filearea(), $this->lf->get_itemid());
        } else {
            return false;
        }
    }