npm package: @stdlib/fs-exists
Description: Test whether a path exists on the filesystem.
Author: The Stdlib Authors
Latest version: 0.2.3

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<details>
  <summary>
    About stdlib...
  </summary>
  <p>We 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.</p>
  <p>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.</p>
  <p>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.</p>
  <p>To join us in bringing numerical computing to the web, get started by checking us out on <a href="https://github.com/stdlib-js/stdlib">GitHub</a>, and please consider <a href="https://opencollective.com/stdlib">financially supporting stdlib</a>. We greatly appreciate your continued support!</p>
</details>

# Exists

[![NPM version][npm-image]][npm-url] [![Build Status][test-image]][test-url] [![Coverage Status][coverage-image]][coverage-url] <!-- [![dependencies][dependencies-image]][dependencies-url] -->

> Test whether a path exists on the filesystem.

<section class="installation">

## Installation

```bash
npm install @stdlib/fs-exists
```

</section>

<section class="usage">

## Usage

```javascript
var exists = require( '@stdlib/fs-exists' );
```

#### exists( path, clbk )

Asynchronously tests whether a path exists on the filesystem.

```javascript
exists( __dirname, done );

function done( bool ) {
    if ( bool ) {
        console.log( '...path exists.' );
    } else {
        console.log( '...path does not exist.' );
    }
}
```

The above callback signature matches the now **deprecated** [`fs.exists()`][node-fs-exists] API. The function also accepts the more conventional `error`-first style callback signature found in most asynchronous Node APIs.

```javascript
exists( __dirname, done );

function done( error, bool ) {
    if ( error ) {
        console.error( error.message );
    }
    if ( bool ) {
        console.log( '...path exists.' );
    } else {
        console.log( '...path does not exist.' );
    }
}
```

#### exists.sync( path )

Synchronously tests whether a path exists on the filesystem.

```javascript
var bool = exists.sync( __dirname );
// returns <boolean>
```

</section>

<!-- /.usage -->

<section class="notes">

## Notes

-   The following is considered an anti-pattern:

    ```javascript
    var path = require( 'path' );
    var readFileSync = require( '@stdlib/fs-read-file' ).sync;

    var file = path.join( __dirname, 'foo.js' );
    if ( exists.sync( __dirname ) ) {
        file = readFileSync( file );
    }
    ```

    Because time elapses between checking for existence and performing IO, at the time IO is performed, the path is no longer guaranteed to exist. In other words, a race condition exists between the process attempting to read and another process attempting to delete.

    Instead, the following pattern is preferred, where `errors` are handled explicitly:

    ```javascript
    var path = require( 'path' );
    var readFileSync = require( '@stdlib/fs-read-file' ).sync;

    var file = path.join( __dirname, 'foo.js' );
    try {
        file = readFileSync( file );
    } catch ( error ) {
        console.log( 'unable to read file.' );
        console.error( error );
    }
    ```

-   Nevertheless, use cases exist where one desires to check existence **without** performing IO. For example,

    <!-- run-disable -->

    ```javascript
    var path = require( 'path' );
    var writeFileSync = require( '@stdlib/fs-write-file' ).sync;

    var file = path.join( __dirname, 'foo.js' );
    if ( exists.sync( file ) ) {
        console.log( 'Don\'t overwrite the file!' );
    } else {
        writeFileSync( file, 'beep', {
            'encoding': 'utf8'
        });
    }
    ```

</section>

<!-- /.notes -->

<section class="examples">

## Examples

<!-- eslint no-undef: "error" -->

```javascript
var exists = require( '@stdlib/fs-exists' );

/* Sync */

console.log( exists.sync( __dirname ) );
// => true

console.log( exists.sync( 'beepboop' ) );
// => false

/* Async */

exists( __dirname, done );
exists( 'beepboop', done );

function done( error, bool ) {
    if ( error ) {
        console.error( error.message );
    } else {
        console.log( bool );
    }
}
```

</section>

<!-- /.examples -->



<!-- Section for related `stdlib` packages. Do not manually edit this section, as it is automatically populated. -->

<section class="related">

## See Also

-   <span class="package-name">[`@stdlib/fs-exists-cli`][@stdlib/fs-exists-cli]</span><span class="delimiter">: </span><span class="description">CLI package for use as a command-line utility.</span>
-   <span class="package-name">[`@stdlib/fs-read-file`][@stdlib/fs/read-file]</span><span class="delimiter">: </span><span class="description">read the entire contents of a file.</span>
-   <span class="package-name">[`@stdlib/fs-read-dir`][@stdlib/fs/read-dir]</span><span class="delimiter">: </span><span class="description">read the entire contents of a directory.</span>

</section>

<!-- /.related -->

<!-- Section for all links. Make sure to keep an empty line after the `section` element and another before the `/section` close. -->


<section class="main-repo" >

* * *

## Notice

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]

---

## License

See [LICENSE][stdlib-license].


## Copyright

Copyright &copy; 2016-2026. The Stdlib [Authors][stdlib-authors].

</section>

<!-- /.stdlib -->

<!-- Section for all links. Make sure to keep an empty line after the `section` element and another before the `/section` close. -->

<section class="links">

[@stdlib/fs-exists-cli]: https://www.npmjs.com/package/@stdlib/fs-exists-cli

[npm-image]: http://img.shields.io/npm/v/@stdlib/fs-exists.svg
[npm-url]: https://npmjs.org/package/@stdlib/fs-exists

[test-image]: https://github.com/stdlib-js/fs-exists/actions/workflows/test.yml/badge.svg?branch=v0.2.3
[test-url]: https://github.com/stdlib-js/fs-exists/actions/workflows/test.yml?query=branch:v0.2.3

[coverage-image]: https://img.shields.io/codecov/c/github/stdlib-js/fs-exists/main.svg
[coverage-url]: https://codecov.io/github/stdlib-js/fs-exists?branch=main

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[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-exists#cli
[cli-url]: https://github.com/stdlib-js/fs-exists/tree/cli
[@stdlib/fs-exists]: https://github.com/stdlib-js/fs-exists/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-exists/tree/deno
[deno-readme]: https://github.com/stdlib-js/fs-exists/blob/deno/README.md
[umd-url]: https://github.com/stdlib-js/fs-exists/tree/umd
[umd-readme]: https://github.com/stdlib-js/fs-exists/blob/umd/README.md
[esm-url]: https://github.com/stdlib-js/fs-exists/tree/esm
[esm-readme]: https://github.com/stdlib-js/fs-exists/blob/esm/README.md
[branches-url]: https://github.com/stdlib-js/fs-exists/blob/main/branches.md

[stdlib-license]: https://raw.githubusercontent.com/stdlib-js/fs-exists/main/LICENSE

[node-fs-exists]: https://nodejs.org/api/fs.html#fs_fs_exists_path_callback

<!-- <related-links> -->

[@stdlib/fs/read-file]: https://www.npmjs.com/package/@stdlib/fs-read-file

[@stdlib/fs/read-dir]: https://www.npmjs.com/package/@stdlib/fs-read-dir

<!-- </related-links> -->

</section>

<!-- /.links -->