File Manipulation in Node.js – Ultimate Guide

Introduction to File Manipulation in Node.js

Node.js is a powerful JavaScript runtime environment that allows developers to create server-side applications with ease. It is a popular choice for web development due to its scalability and flexibility. Node.js also provides a wide range of APIs for manipulating files, making it an ideal choice for file manipulation tasks.

File Manipulation Basics

File manipulation in Node.js is done using the fs module. This module provides a number of functions for manipulating files, such as reading, writing, and deleting files. It also provides functions for creating, renaming, and deleting directories. The fs module is included in the Node.js core, so it is available without any additional installation.

Reading Files

The fs module provides a number of functions for reading files. The most basic function is fs.readFile(), which reads the contents of a file and returns it as a Buffer object. The fs.readFileSync() function is similar, but it returns the contents of the file as a string.

Writing Files

The fs module also provides functions for writing files. The fs.writeFile() function writes data to a file, replacing any existing data. The fs.appendFile() function appends data to a file, preserving any existing data. Both functions accept a callback function that is called when the operation is complete.

Deleting Files

The fs module provides a function for deleting files. The fs.unlink() function deletes a file, and accepts a callback function that is called when the operation is complete.

Creating and Deleting Directories

The fs module also provides functions for creating and deleting directories. The fs.mkdir() function creates a directory, and the fs.rmdir() function deletes a directory. Both functions accept a callback function that is called when the operation is complete.

Example

The following example shows how to use the fs module to read a file, write data to a file, and delete a file:

const fs = require('fs');

// Read the contents of a file
fs.readFile('myfile.txt', (err, data) => {
  if (err) throw err;
  console.log(data);});

// Write data to a file
fs.writeFile('myfile.txt', 'Hello World!', (err) => {
  if (err) throw err;
  console.log('Data written to file');});

// Delete a file
fs.unlink('myfile.txt', (err) => {
  if (err) throw err;
  console.log('File deleted');});

In this example, the fs.readFile() function is used to read the contents of a file, the fs.writeFile() function is used to write data to a file, and the fs.unlink() function is used to delete a file.

Summary

File manipulation in Node.js is easy and straightforward. The fs module provides a number of functions for reading, writing, and deleting files, as well as creating and deleting directories. With the fs module, developers can easily manipulate files in Node.js applications