I want to edit and read a file using JavaScript using the FileReader API. However, all the tutorials I have found ask me to specify the file parameter using the value from <input type="file">. Would I be able to set the file parameter as a file address like 'C:/Users/Code/example.txt'.
FileReader API:
function printFile(file) {
const reader = new FileReader();
reader.onload = function(evt) {
console.log(evt.target.result);
};
reader.readAsText(file);
}
Due to security concerns, you cannot do this in the user's browser, unless the user is uploading. Here is a question that helps you read the file when the user selects it to upload: get the data of uploaded file in javascript
It is however, possible on the server side using nodejs. Here is a sample code that does that on the server side:
const fs = require('fs')
fs.readFile('/Users/joe/test.txt', 'utf8' , (err, data) => {
if (err) {
console.error(err)
return
}
console.log(data)
})