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Read A Text File Using Node Js

Have you ever wondered how you can read a text file using Node.js? Well, wonder no more because in this article, we'll walk you through the process step by step.

Node.js is a powerful JavaScript runtime that allows you to run code outside of a web browser. It's commonly used for building server-side applications and performing various tasks, such as reading and writing files.

To read a text file using Node.js, you'll first need to have Node.js installed on your machine. If you don't have it yet, you can download it from the official Node.js website and follow the installation instructions provided there. Once you have Node.js up and running, you're ready to dive into reading text files.

The first step is to create a new JavaScript file where you'll write the code to read the text file. You can use any text editor of your choice to create this file. Let's call it `readTextFile.js`.

In your `readTextFile.js` file, you'll need to require the built-in `fs` module, which stands for File System. This module provides functions for working with file operations. Here's how you can do it:

Js

const fs = require('fs');

Next, you'll use the `fs.readFile` method to read the contents of the text file. The `readFile` method takes in the path to the file, the encoding type, and a callback function that will be called once the file is read. Here's an example of how you can read a text file named `sample.txt`:

Js

fs.readFile('sample.txt', 'utf8', (err, data) => {
  if (err) {
    console.error(err);
    return;
  }
  console.log(data);
});

In this code snippet, we're reading the `sample.txt` file using the `utf8` encoding, which is commonly used for handling text files. If an error occurs during the file reading process, we log the error to the console. Otherwise, we log the contents of the file using `console.log`.

Now, save your `readTextFile.js` file and open a terminal or command prompt in the same directory where the file is located. Run the script by typing:

Sh

node readTextFile.js

This command will execute your Node.js script and read the contents of the text file you specified. If everything is set up correctly, you should see the text from your file printed to the terminal.

Congratulations! You've successfully read a text file using Node.js. Feel free to experiment with different text files and modify the code to suit your needs. Node.js provides a flexible and efficient way to work with files, making it a valuable tool for any developer. Happy coding!

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