nodejs load file

Question

I want to load test.txt with nodejs.

var fs = require('fs');
fs.readFile('./test.txt', function (err, data) {
  if (err) {
    throw err; 
  }
  console.log(data);
});

The path of the server is C:\server\test\server.js. The test.txt is located in the same directory, but I get this error: Error: ENOENT, no such file or directory 'C:\Users\User\test.txt'

score 92 · Accepted Answer · edited Mar 27 '12 at 23:36

92

Paths in Node are resolved relatively to the current working directory. Prefix your path with __dirname to resolve the path to the location of your Node script.

var fs = require('fs');
fs.readFile( __dirname + '/test.txt', function (err, data) {
  if (err) {
    throw err; 
  }
  console.log(data.toString());
});

edited Mar 27 '12 at 23:36

Danny Fox

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answered Mar 27 '12 at 13:33

Rob W

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I am getting `ReferenceError: __dirname is not defined`. Is it because I sould manually define `var __dirname = '/the/path/'` ? – myfirsttime1 Feb 22 '16 at 12:45
2

@myfirsttime1 `__dirname` only works in Node scripts, not in the REPL. – Rob W Feb 22 '16 at 12:45

score 20 · Answer 2 · answered Apr 26 '15 at 04:17

With Node 0.12, it's possible to do this synchronously now:

  var fs = require('fs');
  var path = require('path');

  // Buffer mydata
  var BUFFER = bufferFile('../test.txt');

  function bufferFile(relPath) {
    return fs.readFileSync(path.join(__dirname, relPath)); // zzzz....
  }

fs is the file system. readFileSync() returns a Buffer, or string if you ask.

fs correctly assumes relative paths are a security issue. path is a work-around.

To load as a string, specify the encoding:

return fs.readFileSync(path,{ encoding: 'utf8' });

score 6 · Answer 3 · answered Mar 27 '12 at 13:34

6

You should use __dirname to get the directory name the file is located instead of the current working directory:

fs.readFile(__dirname + "/test.txt", ...);

answered Mar 27 '12 at 13:34

pimvdb

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Shamshirsaz.Navid · Answer 4 · 2020-12-16T19:40:23.377

Use path and fs:

const fs = require("fs");
const pth = require("path");

Sync:

let data = fs.readFileSync(pth.join(__dirname,"file.txt"));
console.log(data + "");

A-Sync:

fs.readFile(pth.join(__dirname,"file.txt"), (err, data) => {
    console.log(data + "");
});

And that; If you need to read the file continuously and send it to the client and the file size is not large, you may be able to keep a copy of it:

const exp = require("express");
const app = exp();
const fs = require("fs");
const pth = require("path");

let file = "";
app.get("/file", (q, r) => {
    if (file === "")
        file = fs.readFileSync(pth.join(__dirname,"file.txt")) + "";

    r.writeHead(200, { "Content-Type": "text/plain" });
    r.write(file);
    r.end();
});

samccone · Answer 5 · 2012-03-27T13:41:39.570

1

so if it is in the same directory just do this

 fs.readFile(__dirname+'/foo.txt',function(e,d){console.log(d)})

edited Mar 27 '12 at 13:41

answered Mar 27 '12 at 13:33

samccone

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Rob it totally does .. just did it in node terminal – samccone Mar 27 '12 at 13:36
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Create a `x.js` at `/tmp/x/x.js`. Put the OPs code in it. Also create `/tmp/x/test.txt`. Now, set your working dir to `/tmp` (eg. `cd /tmp`) and use `node x/x.js` or `node /tmp/x/x.js` --> `Error: ENOENT, no such file or directory 'test.txt'` – Rob W Mar 27 '12 at 13:39
4

Your original answer was effectively the same code as the OP has (which doesn't work), why the argument lol – Esailija Mar 27 '12 at 13:45

score 0 · Answer 6 · edited Apr 28 '15 at 16:53

0

If it's in same directory it should work. I have tested with the same code, with a file name.txt and it's working fine:

var fs = require('fs');
fs.readFile('./test.txt', function (err, data) {
  if (err) {
    throw err;
  }
  console.log(data.toString());
});

edited Apr 28 '15 at 16:53

Nathaniel Ford

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answered Apr 28 '15 at 15:06

nirmal

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nodejs load file

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