What is Node.js fs.filehandle.utimes() Method?

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Node.js fs.filehandle.utimes() Method - ❤️Node.js Tutorials In 2024

The fs.filehandle.utimes() method is an inbuilt application programming interface of class fs.filehandle within File System module which is used to change the time stamp of this file system.

Syntax:

const filehandle.utimes(atime, mtime)

Parameter: This method accepts two parameters as mentioned above and described below:

atime: Access timestamp is the last time the file was read.
mtime: Modified timestamp signifies the last time the contents of a file were modified.

Return Value: This method returns an pending promise which contains no value in it.

Below programs illustrates the use of fs.filehandle.utimes() method in Node.js:

Example 1: Filename: index.js

Javascript

// Node.js program to demonstrate the 
// filehandle.utimes() method
const fs = require('fs');
const fsPromises = fs.promises;
 
console.log("content of the file before operation :- "
        + fs.readFileSync('example.txt', 'utf8'));
 
// File cTime before operation
fs.stat('example.txt', (err, stats) => {
    if (err) throw err;
 
    console.log("CTime of the file before operation: "
                    + stats.ctime);
});
 
// Initiating asynchronise function
async function funct() {
 
    // Initializing following variables
    let filehandle = null;
    let prom = null;
 
    try {
 
        // Creating and initiating  filehandle
        filehandle = await 
            fsPromises.open('example.txt', 'r+');
 
        // Changing the timestamp of the file
        // by using utimes() method
        prom = filehandle.utimes(0, 10);
 
    } finally {
 
        if (filehandle) {
 
            // File cTime after operation
            (filehandle.stat(true))
                        .then(function (result) {
                console.log("CTime of the file "
                        + "after operation :- "
                        + result.ctime);
            })
 
            console.log("content of the file "
                    + "after operation : " +
                fs.readFileSync('example.txt', 'utf8'));
 
            // Close the file if it is opened.
            await filehandle.close();
        }
    }
}
 
funct().catch(console.error);

Directory structure before running the program:

Directory structure after running the program:

Run index.js file using the following command:

node index.js

Output:

content of the file before operation : Content of example.txt file
CTime of the file before operation: Tue Jul 07 2020 09:21:11 GMT+0530 (India Standard Time)
content of the file after operation : Content of example.txt file
CTime of the file after operation :- Tue Jul 07 2020 09:53:15 GMT+0530 (India Standard Time)

Example 2: Filename: index.js

Javascript

// Node.js program to demonstrate the 
// filehandle.utimes() method
const fs = require('fs');
const fsPromises = fs.promises;
 
// Data for the new file
let data = "This is a file containing"
        + " a collection of books.";
 
// Name of the file to be created
let file = "books.txt";
 
// Creating the new file 'books.txt'
fs.writeFile(file, data, (err) => {
 
    // Catching error
    if (err) {
        console.log(err);
    }
});
 
// Using fs.exists() method 
fs.exists(file, (exists) => {
    if (exists) {
        console.log(
            "content of file before operation: "
            + (fs.readFileSync(file)));
    }
});
 
// File cTime before operation
fs.stat(file, (err, stats) => {
    if (err) throw err;
 
    console.log(
        "CTime of the file before operation: "
        + stats.ctime);
});
 
// Initiating asynchronise function
async function funct() {
 
    // Initializing filehandle
    let filehandle = null;
 
    try {
 
        // Creating and initiating  filehandle
        filehandle = await 
            fsPromises.open(file, 'r+');
 
        // Changing the timestamp of the file
        // by using utimes() method
        prom = filehandle.utimes(0, 20);
 
    } finally {
 
        if (filehandle) {
 
            // Close the file if it is opened.
            // file cTime after operation
            (filehandle.stat(true))
                    .then(function (result) {
                console.log("CTime of the file "
                        + "after operation :- "
                        + result.ctime);
            })
 
            console.log("content of file after"
                + " operation: " + 
                (fs.readFileSync(file)));
 
            await filehandle.close();
        }
    }
}
 
funct().catch(console.error);

Directory structure before running the program:

Directory structure after running the program:

Run index.js file using the following command:

node index.js

Output:

content of file before operation: This is a file containing a collection of books.
CTime of the file before operation: Tue Jul 07 2020 09:56:52 GMT+0530 (India Standard Time)
content of file after operation: This is a file containing a collection of books.
CTime of the file after operation: Tue Jul 07 2020 09:57:09 GMT+0530 (India Standard Time)

Reference: https://nodejs.org/dist/latest-v12.x/docs/api/fs.html#fs_filehandle_utimes_atime_mtime