Error Handling

When using fs.readFile(), it’s important to handle errors properly to prevent crashes and ensure graceful error recovery. Common errors include file not found, insufficient permissions, and I/O errors. You can handle errors by checking the err parameter passed to the callback function. If err is truthy, an error occurred during the reading process, and you should handle it accordingly.

fs.readFile('example.txt', 'utf8', (err, data) => {
  if (err) {
    if (err.code === 'ENOENT') {
      console.error('File not found:', err.path);
    } else {
      console.error('Error reading file:', err);
    }
    return;
  }
  console.log('File content:', data);
});

In Node.js, the fs (File System) module furnishes a collection of methods for interacting with the file system. Among these methods, fs.readFile() stands out as a fundamental tool for reading data from files asynchronously. This article will delve into the fs.readFile() method, exploring its syntax, parameters, usage, and error handling.

Syntax:

fs.readFile( filename, encoding, callback_function )

Parameters:

The method accepts three parameters as mentioned above and described below:  

• filename: It holds the file’s name to read or the entire path if stored at another location.
• encoding: It holds the encoding of the file. Its default value is ‘utf8’.
• callback_function: A callback function is called after reading the file. It takes two parameters:
  • err: If any error occurred.
  • data: Contents of the file.

Return Value:

It returns the contents/data stored in file or error if any.