fs-extra vs upath vs path vs path-extra
Node.js File and Path Utilities Comparison
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What's Node.js File and Path Utilities?

In Node.js development, managing files and paths is a common requirement. Various npm packages provide utilities to simplify these tasks. 'fs-extra' extends the built-in 'fs' module with additional methods for file manipulation, making it easier to work with files and directories. 'path' is a core Node.js module that provides utilities for working with file and directory paths, ensuring compatibility across different operating systems. 'path-extra' builds upon 'path' by adding more utilities for path manipulation, while 'upath' offers a cross-platform solution for handling paths, particularly in scenarios where Windows and Unix-style paths need to be managed seamlessly. These packages enhance productivity by providing robust tools for file and path operations, catering to different needs and preferences in Node.js applications.

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fs-extra108,807,8129,54955.3 kB154 months agoMIT
upath13,621,633153-35 years agoMIT
path3,332,885130-1410 years agoMIT
path-extra75,25523-16 years agoMIT
Feature Comparison: fs-extra vs upath vs path vs path-extra

File System Operations

  • fs-extra:

    fs-extra provides methods like copy, move, remove, and ensureDir, which simplify common file system operations. It supports both callback and promise-based APIs, allowing for flexible asynchronous programming.

  • upath:

    upath focuses on path normalization and manipulation, ensuring that paths are correctly formatted regardless of the operating system, but does not provide file system operations.

  • path:

    path does not provide file system operations; it focuses solely on path manipulation, such as joining, resolving, and normalizing paths, which are essential for file handling.

  • path-extra:

    path-extra extends the capabilities of path with additional functions like isAbsolute and relative, making it easier to perform complex path manipulations that are not covered by the core path module.

Cross-Platform Compatibility

  • fs-extra:

    fs-extra is designed to work seamlessly across different operating systems, but it does not specifically address path formatting issues, as it relies on the underlying fs module.

  • upath:

    upath is specifically designed for cross-platform compatibility, offering utilities that handle both Windows and Unix-style paths, making it ideal for applications that need to run on multiple operating systems.

  • path:

    path is inherently cross-platform, providing methods that work consistently on both Windows and Unix-like systems, making it a reliable choice for path manipulation.

  • path-extra:

    path-extra inherits cross-platform compatibility from path, ensuring that additional path manipulation methods work consistently across different environments.

Ease of Use

  • fs-extra:

    fs-extra is user-friendly, with a straightforward API that allows developers to perform complex file operations with minimal code, making it accessible for beginners and efficient for experienced developers.

  • upath:

    upath is designed to be intuitive, providing a simple interface for path manipulation that abstracts away the complexities of cross-platform differences.

  • path:

    path is simple and easy to use, with a clear API for basic path operations, making it suitable for developers who need straightforward path manipulation without additional complexity.

  • path-extra:

    path-extra is easy to integrate into existing projects, providing additional methods without altering the familiar path API, making it a natural extension for those already using path.

Performance

  • fs-extra:

    fs-extra is optimized for performance with asynchronous methods that prevent blocking the event loop, allowing for efficient file operations in Node.js applications.

  • upath:

    upath is optimized for performance in path manipulation, ensuring that operations are executed quickly, but its focus on cross-platform compatibility may introduce minor overhead in certain scenarios.

  • path:

    path is highly efficient for path operations, as it is a core module with minimal overhead, ensuring fast execution for path manipulations.

  • path-extra:

    path-extra maintains performance similar to path, as it builds upon the core module, but may introduce slight overhead due to additional features.

Extensibility

  • fs-extra:

    fs-extra is extensible, allowing developers to create custom file system methods if needed, providing flexibility for complex applications.

  • upath:

    upath is not inherently extensible, focusing instead on providing a robust set of path utilities without the ability to add custom functionality.

  • path:

    path is not designed for extensibility, as it provides a fixed set of methods for path manipulation, which may limit customization.

  • path-extra:

    path-extra is somewhat extensible, as it adds additional methods to the core path module, but it does not allow for custom method creation.

How to Choose: fs-extra vs upath vs path vs path-extra
  • fs-extra:

    Choose fs-extra if you need a comprehensive set of file system methods that go beyond the built-in fs module, including promise-based methods for asynchronous operations, making it ideal for modern JavaScript applications.

  • upath:

    Opt for upath if you are developing cross-platform applications and need consistent path handling across different operating systems, especially when dealing with mixed path formats.

  • path:

    Use path when you need reliable and efficient path manipulation without any additional dependencies, as it is a built-in module and provides essential utilities for working with file paths.

  • path-extra:

    Select path-extra if you require additional path manipulation methods that are not included in the core path module, enhancing your ability to work with paths in a more flexible manner.

Similar Npm Packages to fs-extra

fs-extra is a popular Node.js package that extends the built-in fs (file system) module with additional methods and functionalities. It provides a more convenient and powerful API for file and directory manipulation, making it easier to handle common tasks like copying, moving, and removing files. With fs-extra, developers can work with promises or callbacks, enabling a more flexible approach to file operations.

While fs-extra is a robust choice for file system operations, there are alternatives available that may better suit specific needs:

  • fs is the built-in Node.js file system module. It provides a comprehensive set of methods for interacting with the file system, including reading and writing files, creating directories, and more. However, it lacks some of the convenience methods found in fs-extra, such as recursive directory creation or file copying with additional options. If you only need basic file system operations and prefer to stick with the core Node.js modules, using fs might be sufficient for your needs.
  • fs-extra-promise is a variant of fs-extra that focuses on providing promise-based methods for file system operations. This package allows developers to work with promises instead of callbacks, making it easier to manage asynchronous operations. If you prefer using promises for handling file system tasks and want to leverage the additional features of fs-extra, fs-extra-promise is a great option.

To see how fs-extra compares with fs and fs-extra-promise, check out the comparison: Comparing fs vs fs-extra vs fs-extra-promise.

Similar Npm Packages to upath

upath is a utility library for handling file and directory paths in a cross-platform manner. It provides a consistent API for working with paths, making it easier to manipulate and resolve paths in both Node.js and browser environments. This is particularly useful for developers who want to ensure their applications work seamlessly across different platforms. While upath is a great choice for path manipulation, there are several alternatives available in the JavaScript ecosystem. Here are a few notable ones:

  • path is a built-in Node.js module that provides utilities for working with file and directory paths. It offers methods for resolving, normalizing, and joining paths, making it a robust choice for server-side applications. However, it is not designed for browser environments, which limits its use in universal applications. If you're developing a Node.js application and need a reliable path manipulation library, the built-in path module is a solid option.

  • path-browserify is a browser-compatible version of the Node.js path module. It replicates the functionality of the Node.js path module, allowing developers to work with paths in browser environments. This is particularly useful for applications that need to run in both Node.js and browser contexts. If you need a path manipulation library that works in the browser while maintaining a familiar API, path-browserify is an excellent choice.

  • path-to-regexp is a library used for matching paths against a pattern, often used in routing scenarios. It allows developers to create regular expressions from path strings, making it easier to extract parameters from URLs. While it is not a direct alternative for general path manipulation, it is valuable for applications that require path matching and parameter extraction, such as web routing libraries.

  • upath2 is a fork of the original upath library, providing similar functionality with some enhancements and additional features. It aims to maintain compatibility while offering improvements in performance and usability. If you are looking for an updated version of upath with additional capabilities, upath2 may be the right choice.

To see how upath compares with path, path-browserify, path-to-regexp, and upath2, check out the comparison: Comparing path vs path-browserify vs path-to-regexp vs upath vs upath2.

Similar Npm Packages to path

path is a core Node.js module that provides utilities for working with file and directory paths. It offers methods for manipulating file paths, such as joining, resolving, and normalizing paths, making it easier for developers to handle file system operations in a cross-platform manner. While the path module is quite powerful on its own, there are several alternatives that extend its functionality or provide additional features. Here are a few notable alternatives:

  • fs-extra is an extension of the built-in fs module in Node.js that adds extra methods and functionality for file system operations. It includes methods for copying, moving, removing, and ensuring the existence of files and directories, among others. fs-extra is particularly useful when you need to perform complex file operations that go beyond the capabilities of the standard fs module. If you're looking for a more comprehensive solution for file manipulation that also includes path utilities, fs-extra is an excellent choice.
  • path-extra is a small utility that extends the functionality of the built-in path module by adding additional methods for manipulating paths. It provides methods for handling path normalization and manipulation, making it easier to work with file paths in various scenarios. If you find yourself needing more advanced path manipulation features that are not available in the standard path module, path-extra can be a helpful addition to your toolkit.
  • upath is a cross-platform alternative to the built-in path module that aims to provide consistent path manipulation across different operating systems. It normalizes paths to use forward slashes (/), making it easier to work with paths in a way that is agnostic to the underlying operating system. If you are developing applications that need to run on multiple platforms and require consistent path handling, upath is a great option to consider.

To see how these packages compare, check out the comparison: Comparing fs-extra vs path vs path-extra vs upath.

Similar Npm Packages to path-extra

path-extra is a Node.js package that extends the built-in path module, providing additional utility functions for working with file and directory paths. It simplifies common path manipulations and enhances the functionality of the standard path module, making it easier for developers to handle file system paths in their applications. With path-extra, you can perform operations like normalizing paths, resolving relative paths, and more, all while benefiting from a more intuitive API.

While path-extra offers valuable enhancements, there are alternatives in the Node.js ecosystem that also provide path manipulation capabilities. Here are a couple of notable alternatives:

  • path is the built-in Node.js module for handling file and directory paths. It provides essential methods for working with paths, such as joining, resolving, and normalizing paths. While it lacks the additional functionalities offered by path-extra, it is a reliable and widely used option for basic path manipulations. If your needs are straightforward and you prefer to stick with the built-in modules, the path module is sufficient for many use cases.
  • path-parse is a lightweight library that focuses specifically on parsing file paths. It provides a simple function to break down a path into its components, such as root, directory, base, and extension. If your primary requirement is to analyze and decompose paths rather than perform extensive manipulations, path-parse is a great choice. It offers a minimalistic approach and can be easily integrated into projects that require path parsing without additional overhead.

To see how path-extra compares with path and path-parse, check out the comparison: Comparing path vs path-extra vs path-parse.

README for fs-extra

Node.js: fs-extra

fs-extra adds file system methods that aren't included in the native fs module and adds promise support to the fs methods. It also uses graceful-fs to prevent EMFILE errors. It should be a drop in replacement for fs.

npm Package License build status downloads per month JavaScript Style Guide

Why?

I got tired of including mkdirp, rimraf, and ncp in most of my projects.

Installation

npm install fs-extra

Usage

CommonJS

fs-extra is a drop in replacement for native fs. All methods in fs are attached to fs-extra. All fs methods return promises if the callback isn't passed.

You don't ever need to include the original fs module again:

const fs = require('fs') // this is no longer necessary

you can now do this:

const fs = require('fs-extra')

or if you prefer to make it clear that you're using fs-extra and not fs, you may want to name your fs variable fse like so:

const fse = require('fs-extra')

you can also keep both, but it's redundant:

const fs = require('fs')
const fse = require('fs-extra')

ESM

There is also an fs-extra/esm import, that supports both default and named exports. However, note that fs methods are not included in fs-extra/esm; you still need to import fs and/or fs/promises seperately:

import { readFileSync } from 'fs'
import { readFile } from 'fs/promises'
import { outputFile, outputFileSync } from 'fs-extra/esm'

Default exports are supported:

import fs from 'fs'
import fse from 'fs-extra/esm'
// fse.readFileSync is not a function; must use fs.readFileSync

but you probably want to just use regular fs-extra instead of fs-extra/esm for default exports:

import fs from 'fs-extra'
// both fs and fs-extra methods are defined

Sync vs Async vs Async/Await

Most methods are async by default. All async methods will return a promise if the callback isn't passed.

Sync methods on the other hand will throw if an error occurs.

Also Async/Await will throw an error if one occurs.

Example:

const fs = require('fs-extra')

// Async with promises:
fs.copy('/tmp/myfile', '/tmp/mynewfile')
  .then(() => console.log('success!'))
  .catch(err => console.error(err))

// Async with callbacks:
fs.copy('/tmp/myfile', '/tmp/mynewfile', err => {
  if (err) return console.error(err)
  console.log('success!')
})

// Sync:
try {
  fs.copySync('/tmp/myfile', '/tmp/mynewfile')
  console.log('success!')
} catch (err) {
  console.error(err)
}

// Async/Await:
async function copyFiles () {
  try {
    await fs.copy('/tmp/myfile', '/tmp/mynewfile')
    console.log('success!')
  } catch (err) {
    console.error(err)
  }
}

copyFiles()

Methods

Async

Sync

NOTE: You can still use the native Node.js methods. They are promisified and copied over to fs-extra. See notes on fs.read(), fs.write(), & fs.writev()

What happened to walk() and walkSync()?

They were removed from fs-extra in v2.0.0. If you need the functionality, walk and walkSync are available as separate packages, klaw and klaw-sync.

Third Party

CLI

fse-cli allows you to run fs-extra from a console or from npm scripts.

TypeScript

If you like TypeScript, you can use fs-extra with it: https://github.com/DefinitelyTyped/DefinitelyTyped/tree/master/types/fs-extra

File / Directory Watching

If you want to watch for changes to files or directories, then you should use chokidar.

Obtain Filesystem (Devices, Partitions) Information

fs-filesystem allows you to read the state of the filesystem of the host on which it is run. It returns information about both the devices and the partitions (volumes) of the system.

Misc.

Hacking on fs-extra

Wanna hack on fs-extra? Great! Your help is needed! fs-extra is one of the most depended upon Node.js packages. This project uses JavaScript Standard Style - if the name or style choices bother you, you're gonna have to get over it :) If standard is good enough for npm, it's good enough for fs-extra.

js-standard-style

What's needed?

  • First, take a look at existing issues. Those are probably going to be where the priority lies.
  • More tests for edge cases. Specifically on different platforms. There can never be enough tests.
  • Improve test coverage.

Note: If you make any big changes, you should definitely file an issue for discussion first.

Running the Test Suite

fs-extra contains hundreds of tests.

  • npm run lint: runs the linter (standard)
  • npm run unit: runs the unit tests
  • npm run unit-esm: runs tests for fs-extra/esm exports
  • npm test: runs the linter and all tests

When running unit tests, set the environment variable CROSS_DEVICE_PATH to the absolute path of an empty directory on another device (like a thumb drive) to enable cross-device move tests.

Windows

If you run the tests on the Windows and receive a lot of symbolic link EPERM permission errors, it's because on Windows you need elevated privilege to create symbolic links. You can add this to your Windows's account by following the instructions here: http://superuser.com/questions/104845/permission-to-make-symbolic-links-in-windows-7 However, I didn't have much luck doing this.

Since I develop on Mac OS X, I use VMWare Fusion for Windows testing. I create a shared folder that I map to a drive on Windows. I open the Node.js command prompt and run as Administrator. I then map the network drive running the following command:

net use z: "\\vmware-host\Shared Folders"

I can then navigate to my fs-extra directory and run the tests.

Naming

I put a lot of thought into the naming of these functions. Inspired by @coolaj86's request. So he deserves much of the credit for raising the issue. See discussion(s) here:

  • https://github.com/jprichardson/node-fs-extra/issues/2
  • https://github.com/flatiron/utile/issues/11
  • https://github.com/ryanmcgrath/wrench-js/issues/29
  • https://github.com/substack/node-mkdirp/issues/17

First, I believe that in as many cases as possible, the Node.js naming schemes should be chosen. However, there are problems with the Node.js own naming schemes.

For example, fs.readFile() and fs.readdir(): the F is capitalized in File and the d is not capitalized in dir. Perhaps a bit pedantic, but they should still be consistent. Also, Node.js has chosen a lot of POSIX naming schemes, which I believe is great. See: fs.mkdir(), fs.rmdir(), fs.chown(), etc.

We have a dilemma though. How do you consistently name methods that perform the following POSIX commands: cp, cp -r, mkdir -p, and rm -rf?

My perspective: when in doubt, err on the side of simplicity. A directory is just a hierarchical grouping of directories and files. Consider that for a moment. So when you want to copy it or remove it, in most cases you'll want to copy or remove all of its contents. When you want to create a directory, if the directory that it's suppose to be contained in does not exist, then in most cases you'll want to create that too.

So, if you want to remove a file or a directory regardless of whether it has contents, just call fs.remove(path). If you want to copy a file or a directory whether it has contents, just call fs.copy(source, destination). If you want to create a directory regardless of whether its parent directories exist, just call fs.mkdirs(path) or fs.mkdirp(path).

Credit

fs-extra wouldn't be possible without using the modules from the following authors:

License

Licensed under MIT

Copyright (c) 2011-2024 JP Richardson

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