Node fs.unlink() Method

`fs.unlink()` in Node.js removes files or symbolic links, while for directories, it’s advisable to use `fs.rmdir()` since it doesn’t support directory removal.

Syntax:

fs.unlink( path, callback )

Parameters: This method accepts two parameters as mentioned above and described below: 

• path: It is a string, Buffer or URL that, represents the file or symbolic link that has to be removed.
• callback: It is a function that would be called when the method is executed. 
• err: It is an error that would be thrown if the method fails.

Example 1: Below examples illustrate the fs.unlink() method in Node.js. This example removes a file from the filesystem.

Javascript

// Node.js program to demonstrate the
// fs.unlink() method

// Import the filesystem module
const fs = require('fs');

// Get the files in current directory
// before deletion
getFilesInDirectory();

// Delete example_file.txt
fs.unlink("example_file.txt",
    (err => {
        if (err) console.log(err);
        else {
            console.log("\nDeleted file: example_file.txt");

            // Get the files in current directory
            // after deletion
            getFilesInDirectory();
        }
    }));

// Function to get current filenames
// in directory with specific extension
function getFilesInDirectory() {
    console.log("\nFiles present in directory:");
    let files =
        fs.readdirSync(__dirname);
    files.forEach(file => {
        console.log(file);
    });
}

Output:

Files present in directory:
example_file.txt
index.js
package.json

Deleted file: example_file.txt

Files present in directory:
index.js
package.json

Example 2: Below examples illustrate the fs.unlink() method in Node.js. This example removes a symbolic link from the filesystem.

Javascript

// Node.js program to demonstrate the
// fs.unlink() method

// Import the filesystem module
const fs = require('fs');

// Creating symlink to file
fs.symlinkSync(
    __dirname +
    "\\example_file.txt", "symlinkToFile"
);
console.log(
    "\nSymbolic link to example_file.txt created"
);

// Function to get current filenames
// in directory with specific extension
getFilesInDirectory();

// Deleting symbolic link to example_file.txt
// Delete example_file.txt
fs.unlink("symlinkToFile", (err => {
    if (err) console.log(err);
    else {
        console.log(
            "\nDeleted Symbolic Link: symlinkToFile"
        );
        // Get the files in current directory
        // after deletion
        getFilesInDirectory();
    }
}));

// Function to get current filenames
// in directory with specific extension
function getFilesInDirectory() {
    console.log("\nFiles present in directory:");
    let files =
        fs.readdirSync(__dirname);
    files.forEach(
        file => {
            console.log(file);
        }
    );
}

Output:

Symbolic link to example_file.txt created

Files present in directory:
example_file.txt
index.js
package.json
symlinkToFile

Deleted Symbolic Link: symlinkToFile

Files present in directory:
example_file.txt
index.js
package.json

We have a Cheat Sheet on Node FIle System Module methods where we covered all the important methods to check those please go through Node.js fs Complete Reference article.