# Node file stats

> Learn how to get the details of a file in Node.js using the fs module stat() method to check isFile(), isDirectory(), symbolic links, and file size.

Author: Flavio Copes | Published: 2018-08-23 | Canonical: https://flaviocopes.com/node-file-stats/

Every file comes with a set of details that we can inspect using Node.

In particular, using the `stat()` method provided by the `fs` module.

You call it passing a file path, and once Node gets the file details it will call the callback function you pass, with 2 parameters: an error message, and the file stats:

```js
const fs = require('fs')
fs.stat('/Users/flavio/test.txt', (err, stats) => {
  if (err) {
    console.error(err)
    return
  }
  //we have access to the file stats in `stats`
})
```

Node provides also a sync method, which blocks the thread until the file stats are ready:


```js
const fs = require('fs')
try {
  const stats = fs.stat('/Users/flavio/test.txt')
} catch (err) {
  console.error(err)
}
```

The file information is included in the stats variable. What kind of information can we extract using the stats?

A lot, including:

- if the file is a directory or a file, using `stats.isFile()` and `stats.isDirectory()`
- if the file is a symbolic link using `stats.isSymbolicLink()`
- the file size in bytes using `stats.size`.

There are other advanced methods, but the bulk of what you'll use in your day-to-day programming is this.

```js
const fs = require('fs')
fs.stat('/Users/flavio/test.txt', (err, stats) => {
  if (err) {
    console.error(err)
    return
  }

  stats.isFile() //true
  stats.isDirectory() //false
  stats.isSymbolicLink() //false
  stats.size //1024000 //= 1MB
})
```