Read the entire contents of a directory.
npm install @stdlib/fs-read-dirWe believe in a future in which the web is a preferred environment for numerical computation. To help realize this future, we've built stdlib. stdlib is a standard library, with an emphasis on numerical and scientific computation, written in JavaScript (and C) for execution in browsers and in Node.js. The library is fully decomposable, being architected in such a way that you can swap out and mix and match APIs and functionality to cater to your exact preferences and use cases. When you use stdlib, you can be absolutely certain that you are using the most thorough, rigorous, well-written, studied, documented, tested, measured, and high-quality code out there. To join us in bringing numerical computing to the web, get started by checking us out on GitHub, and please consider financially supporting stdlib. We greatly appreciate your continued support!
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> Read the contents of a directory.
``bash`
npm install @stdlib/fs-read-dir
`javascript`
var readDir = require( '@stdlib/fs-read-dir' );
#### readDir( path, clbk )
Asynchronously reads the contents of a directory.
`javascript
readDir( __dirname, onRead );
function onRead( error, data ) {
if ( error ) {
console.error( error );
} else {
console.log( data );
// => [...]
}
}
`
#### readDir.sync( path )
Synchronously reads the contents of a directory.
`javascript`
var out = readDir.sync( __dirname );
if ( out instanceof Error ) {
throw out;
}
console.log( out );
// => [...]
- The difference between this module and [fs.readdirSync()][fs] is that [fs.readdirSync()][fs] will throw if an error is encountered (e.g., if given a non-existent path) and this module will return an error. Hence, the following anti-pattern
`javascript
var fs = require( 'fs' );
var dir = '/path/to/dir';
// Check for existence to prevent an error being thrown...
if ( fs.existsSync( dir ) ) {
dir = fs.readdirSync( dir );
}
`
can be replaced by an approach which addresses existence via error handling.
`javascript
var readDir = require( '@stdlib/fs-read-dir' );
var dir = '/path/to/dir';
// Explicitly handle the error...
dir = readDir.sync( dir );
if ( dir instanceof Error ) {
// You choose what to do...
throw dir;
}
`
`javascript
var readDir = require( '@stdlib/fs-read-dir' );
/ Sync /
var out = readDir.sync( __dirname );
// returns
console.log( out instanceof Error );
// => false
out = readDir.sync( 'beepboop' );
// returns
console.log( out instanceof Error );
// => true
/ Async /
readDir( __dirname, onRead );
readDir( 'beepboop', onRead );
function onRead( error, data ) {
if ( error ) {
if ( error.code === 'ENOENT' ) {
console.error( 'Directory does not exist.' );
} else {
throw error;
}
} else {
console.log( data );
}
}
`
- [@stdlib/fs-read-dir-cli][@stdlib/fs-read-dir-cli]: CLI package for use as a command-line utility.
- [@stdlib/fs-exists][@stdlib/fs/exists]: test whether a path exists on the filesystem.
- [@stdlib/fs-read-file][@stdlib/fs/read-file]: read the entire contents of a file.
*
This package is part of [stdlib][stdlib], a standard library for JavaScript and Node.js, with an emphasis on numerical and scientific computing. The library provides a collection of robust, high performance libraries for mathematics, statistics, streams, utilities, and more.
For more information on the project, filing bug reports and feature requests, and guidance on how to develop [stdlib][stdlib], see the main project [repository][stdlib].
#### Community
[![Chat][chat-image]][chat-url]
---
See [LICENSE][stdlib-license].
Copyright © 2016-2026. The Stdlib [Authors][stdlib-authors].
[@stdlib/fs-read-dir-cli]: https://www.npmjs.com/package/@stdlib/fs-read-dir-cli
[npm-image]: http://img.shields.io/npm/v/@stdlib/fs-read-dir.svg
[npm-url]: https://npmjs.org/package/@stdlib/fs-read-dir
[test-image]: https://github.com/stdlib-js/fs-read-dir/actions/workflows/test.yml/badge.svg?branch=v0.2.3
[test-url]: https://github.com/stdlib-js/fs-read-dir/actions/workflows/test.yml?query=branch:v0.2.3
[coverage-image]: https://img.shields.io/codecov/c/github/stdlib-js/fs-read-dir/main.svg
[coverage-url]: https://codecov.io/github/stdlib-js/fs-read-dir?branch=main
[chat-image]: https://img.shields.io/badge/zulip-join_chat-brightgreen.svg
[chat-url]: https://stdlib.zulipchat.com
[stdlib]: https://github.com/stdlib-js/stdlib
[stdlib-authors]: https://github.com/stdlib-js/stdlib/graphs/contributors
[cli-section]: https://github.com/stdlib-js/fs-read-dir#cli
[cli-url]: https://github.com/stdlib-js/fs-read-dir/tree/cli
[@stdlib/fs-read-dir]: https://github.com/stdlib-js/fs-read-dir/tree/main
[umd]: https://github.com/umdjs/umd
[es-module]: https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/JavaScript/Guide/Modules
[deno-url]: https://github.com/stdlib-js/fs-read-dir/tree/deno
[deno-readme]: https://github.com/stdlib-js/fs-read-dir/blob/deno/README.md
[umd-url]: https://github.com/stdlib-js/fs-read-dir/tree/umd
[umd-readme]: https://github.com/stdlib-js/fs-read-dir/blob/umd/README.md
[esm-url]: https://github.com/stdlib-js/fs-read-dir/tree/esm
[esm-readme]: https://github.com/stdlib-js/fs-read-dir/blob/esm/README.md
[branches-url]: https://github.com/stdlib-js/fs-read-dir/blob/main/branches.md
[stdlib-license]: https://raw.githubusercontent.com/stdlib-js/fs-read-dir/main/LICENSE
[fs]: https://nodejs.org/api/fs.html
[@stdlib/fs/exists]: https://www.npmjs.com/package/@stdlib/fs-exists
[@stdlib/fs/read-file]: https://www.npmjs.com/package/@stdlib/fs-read-file