How to update a value in a json file and save it through node.js

Question

How do I update a value in a json file and save it through node.js? I have the file content:

var file_content = fs.readFileSync(filename);
var content = JSON.parse(file_content);
var val1 = content.val1;

Now I want to change the value of val1 and save it to the file.

Answer 1

Doing this asynchronously is quite easy. It's particularly useful if you're concerned with blocking the thread (likely). Otherwise, I'd suggest Peter Lyon's answer

const fs = require('fs');
const fileName = './file.json';
const file = require(fileName);
    
file.key = "new value";
    
fs.writeFile(fileName, JSON.stringify(file), function writeJSON(err) {
  if (err) return console.log(err);
  console.log(JSON.stringify(file));
  console.log('writing to ' + fileName);
});

The caveat is that json is written to the file on one line and not prettified. ex:

{
  "key": "value"
}

will be...

{"key": "value"}

To avoid this, simply add these two extra arguments to JSON.stringify

JSON.stringify(file, null, 2)

null - represents the replacer function. (in this case we don't want to alter the process)

2 - represents the spaces to indent.

Answer 2

//change the value in the in-memory object
content.val1 = 42;
//Serialize as JSON and Write it to a file
fs.writeFileSync(filename, JSON.stringify(content));

Answer 3

// read file and make object
let content = JSON.parse(fs.readFileSync('file.json', 'utf8'));
// edit or add property
content.expiry_date = 999999999999;
//write file
fs.writeFileSync('file.json', JSON.stringify(content));

Answer 4

addition to the previous answer add file path directory for the write operation

 fs.writeFile(path.join(__dirname,jsonPath), JSON.stringify(newFileData), function (err) {})

Answer 5

I would strongly recommend not to use synchronous (blocking) functions, as they hold other concurrent operations. Instead, use asynchronous fs.promises:

const fs = require('fs').promises

const setValue = (fn, value) => 
  fs.readFile(fn)
    .then(body => JSON.parse(body))
    .then(json => {
      // manipulate your data here
      json.value = value
      return json
    })
    .then(json => JSON.stringify(json))
    .then(body => fs.writeFile(fn, body))
    .catch(error => console.warn(error))

Remeber that setValue returns a pending promise, you'll need to use .then function or, within async functions, the await operator.

// await operator
await setValue('temp.json', 1)           // save "value": 1
await setValue('temp.json', 2)           // then "value": 2
await setValue('temp.json', 3)           // then "value": 3

// then-sequence
setValue('temp.json', 1)                 // save "value": 1
  .then(() => setValue('temp.json', 2))  // then save "value": 2
  .then(() => setValue('temp.json', 3))  // then save "value": 3

Answer 6

For those looking to add an item to a json collection

function save(item, path = './collection.json'){
    if (!fs.existsSync(path)) {
        fs.writeFile(path, JSON.stringify([item]));
    } else {
        var data = fs.readFileSync(path, 'utf8');  
        var list = (data.length) ? JSON.parse(data): [];
        if (list instanceof Array) list.push(item)
        else list = [item]  
        fs.writeFileSync(path, JSON.stringify(list));
    }
}

Answer 7

Save data after task completion

fs.readFile("./sample.json", 'utf8', function readFileCallback(err, data) {
        if (err) {
          console.log(err);
        } else {
          fs.writeFile("./sample.json", JSON.stringify(result), 'utf8', err => {
            if (err) throw err;
            console.log('File has been saved!');
          });
        }
      });

Answer 8

Promise based solution [Javascript (ES6) + Node.js (V10 or above)]

const fsPromises = require('fs').promises;
fsPromises.readFile('myFile.json', 'utf8') 
        .then(data => { 
                let json = JSON.parse(data);
                //// Here - update your json as per your requirement ////

                fsPromises.writeFile('myFile.json', JSON.stringify(json))
                        .then(  () => { console.log('Update Success'); })
                        .catch(err => { console.log("Update Failed: " + err);});
            })
        .catch(err => { console.log("Read Error: " +err);});

If your project supports Javascript ES8 then you could use asyn/await instead of native promise.