How to Remove a File in Node.js

This guide shows how to delete files in Node.js using fs.unlink and fs.promises.unlink, with examples for both synchronous and asynchronous approaches.

Published On 31 Jul, 2025

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To delete a file in Node.js, use fs.unlink or fs.unlinkSync. These methods offer async and sync options for file removal.

Problem

In many Node.js applications, you need to delete files dynamically. Whether it’s temp data or user uploaded content, file removal is important.

Solution

Node.js has the built-in fs (File System) module, which can be used to delete files.

Using fs.unlink() (Callback)

const fs = require('fs');fs.unlink('path/to/file.txt', (err) => { if (err) { console.error('Error deleting file:', err); return; } console.log('File deleted'); });

Using fs.promises.unlink() (Promise with async/await)

Also Read: Top Node.js IDE For Application Development

Additional Tip: Check if File Exists First

Before deleting you might want to check if the file exists to avoid exceptions: js

const fs = require('fs');if (fs.existsSync('path/to/file.txt')) { fs.unlinkSync('path/to/file.txt'); console.log('File removed'); } else { console.log('File not found'); }

Conclusion

Node.js has both callback and promise-based ways to delete files using the fs module. Always handle errors properly, especially in production.

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