Sentry Answers>Node.js>

Check if a file or directory exists synchronously in Node.js

Check if a file or directory exists synchronously in Node.js

David Y.

—

The Problem

How can I check synchronously if a file or directory exists in Node.js?

The Solution

The function fs.existsSync() can be used to synchronously check if a file or directory exists. The asynchronous version of this function, fs.exists(), is deprecated, but fs.existsSync() will still work.

Example usage:

Click to Copy
const fs = require("fs");

if (fs.existsSync("/tmp/myfile")) {
  console.log("/tmp/myfile exists!");
} else {
  console.log("/tmp/myfile does not exist!");
}

Note that this function will return True if myfile is a file or a directory, as long as it exists. We can use fs.lstatSync() on the path to retrieve an fs.Stats object containing information about the path. This object has an isDirectory() method we can use:

Click to Copy
const fs = require("fs");

if (fs.existsSync("/tmp/myfile")) {
  console.log("/tmp/myfile exists!");

  if (fs.lstatSync("/tmp/myfile").isDirectory()) {
    console.log("/tmp/myfile is a directory!");
  } else {
    console.log("/tmp/myfile is a file!");
  }
} else {
  console.log("/tmp/myfile does not exist!");
}
  • SentryWorkshop: Debugging your Node.js Project With Sentry
  • Syntax.fmListen to the Syntax Podcast
  • Community SeriesIdentify, Trace, and Fix Endpoint Regression Issues
  • ResourcesBackend Error Monitoring 101
  • Syntax.fm logo
    Listen to the Syntax Podcast

    Tasty treats for web developers brought to you by Sentry. Get tips and tricks from Wes Bos and Scott Tolinski.

    SEE EPISODES

Considered “not bad” by 4 million developers and more than 100,000 organizations worldwide, Sentry provides code-level observability to many of the world’s best-known companies like Disney, Peloton, Cloudflare, Eventbrite, Slack, Supercell, and Rockstar Games. Each month we process billions of exceptions from the most popular products on the internet.

learn more about sentryjoin our discord
© 2024 • Sentry is a registered Trademark of Functional Software, Inc.