Node FS – Delete a File using unlink() or unlinkSync() functions

To delete a file in Node.js, Node FS unlink(path, callback) can be used for asynchronous file operation and
unlinkSync(path) can be used for synchronous file operation. In this Node.js Tutorial, a step by step guide is
provided to delete a file with node fs and well detailed examples.

Delete a File in Node.js – Node FS unlink()

Following is a step by step guide to delete a File programmatically in Node.js :

Step 1 : Include File System module to your Node.js program

var fs = require(‘fs‘);

We will use unlink() and unlinkSync() functions of this module.

Step 2 : Delete file asynchronously using unlink() function. Syntax is provided below
fs.unlink(filePath, callbackFunction)

Once an attempt is made to delete the file, callback function is called with error (as argument) if any.

To delete file synchronously, use unlinkSync() function. Syntax is provided below

fs.unlinkSync(filePath)

wherefilePath is a String that represents path of the file to be deleted.

Example: Delete file asynchronously using Node FS unlink() function

For this example, make sure there is a file named ‘sample.txt’ next to the node.js example program.

Create following Node.js program, deleteFile.js , to delete a file in Node.js.

deleteFile.js

// include node fs
module
var fs = require('fs');

//
// delete
includefile named
node fs module
'sample.txt'
var fs = require('fs');
fs.unlink('sample.txt',
function (err) {
if (err) throw err;
//
// delete file named
if no error, file has'sample.txt'
been deleted
fs.unlink('sample.txt', function (err) {
successfully
console.log('File
if (err) throw err;
deleted!');
}); // if no error, file has been deleted successfully
console.log('File deleted!');
});

Run the program using node command in terminal or command prompt.

Terminal Output

$ node deleteFile.js
File deleted!

$ node deleteFile.js
File deleted!

The file is successfully deleted.

Example: Delete file synchronously using Node FS unlinkSync() function

Create following Node.js program to delete a file in Node.js Synchronously. This is helpful if statements next to
the delete operation depend on the file you delete. unlinkSync() function makes sure that file is deleted(if it
exists) before the execution of subsequent statements.

deleteFileSynchronously.js

// include node fs
module
var fs = require('fs');

//
// delete
includefile named
node fs module
'sample.txt'
var fs = require('fs');
Synchronously
fs.unlinkSync('sample.t
xt');
// delete file named 'sample.txt' Synchronously
console.log('File
deleted!');
fs.unlinkSync('sample.txt');
console.log('File deleted!');

Run the program using node command in terminal or command prompt.

Terminal Output

$ node
deleteFileSynchronousl
y.js
File deleted!
$ node deleteFileSynchronously.js
File deleted!

The file is successfully deleted.

Example: File specified to delete is not present. (Error: ENOENT: no such file or
directory)
For this example, make sure there is no file named ‘sample11.txt’ next to the node.js example program. We will
simulate the condition that we tried to delete a file which is not present at the location.

deleteFile.js

// include node fs
module
 // include node fs module
var fs = require('fs');

// delete file named 'sample.txt'

fs.unlink('sample11.txt', function (err) {
if (err) throw err;
// if no error, file has been deleted successfully
console.log('File deleted!');
});

Run the program using node command in terminal or command prompt.

Terminal Output

$ node deleteFile2.js
/home/arjun/workspace
/nodejs/deleteFile2.js:6
if (err) throw err;
$ node ^deleteFile2.js
/home/arjun/workspace/nodejs/deleteFile2.js:6
Error: ENOENT: no
suchif (err)orthrow
file directory,
err;
unlink 'sample11.txt'
^

Error: ENOENT: no such file or directory, unlink 'sample11.txt'

As the file is not present, an error is thrown saying ‘no such file or directory’.

Conclusion
Concluding this Node.js Tutorial – Node FS, we have learned to delete a File in Node.js using Node FS (File
System) built-in module.

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