Node.js process.argv Property

The process.argv property is an inbuilt application programming interface of the process module which is used to get the arguments passed to the node.js process when run in the command line.

Syntax:

process.argv

Return Value: This property returns an array containing the arguments passed to the process when run it in the command line. The first element is the process execution path and the second element is the path for the js file.

Below examples illustrate the use of process.argv property in Node.js:

Example 1:

// Node.js program to demonstrate the
// process.argv Property

// Include process module
const process = require('process');

// Printing process.argv property value
console.log(process.argv);

Command to run the code:

node index.js extra_argument1 extra_argument2 3

Output:

[ 'C:\\Program Files\\nodejs\\node.exe',
  'C:\\nodejs\\g\\process\\argv_1.js',
  'extra_argument1',
  'extra_argument2',
  '3' 
]

Example 2:

// Node.js program to demonstrate the
// process.argv Property

// Include process module
const process = require('process');

// Printing process.argv property value
var args = process.argv;

console.log("number of arguments is "+args.length);

args.forEach((val, index) => {
    console.log(`${index}: ${val}`);
});

Command to run the code:

node index.js extra_argument1 extra_argument2 3

Output:

number of arguments is 5
0: C:\Program Files\nodejs\node.exe
1: C:\nodejs\g\process\argv_2.js
2: extra_argument1
3: extra_argument2
4: 3

Note: The above program will compile and run by using the node filename.js command followed by arguments.

Reference: https://nodejs.org/api/process.html#process_process_argv