Question

So Im trying to use the nodejs express FS module to iterate a directory in my app, store each filename in an array, which I can pass to my express view and iterate through the list, but Im struggling to do so. When I do a console.log within the files.forEach function loop, its printing the filename just fine, but as soon as I try to do anything such as:

var myfiles = [];
var fs = require('fs');
fs.readdir('./myfiles/', function (err, files) { if (err) throw err;
  files.forEach( function (file) {
    myfiles.push(file);
  });
});
console.log(myfiles);

it fails, just logs an empty object. So Im not sure exactly what is going on, I think it has to do with callback functions, but if someone could walk me through what Im doing wrong, and why its not working, (and how to make it work), it would be much appreciated.

Answer 1

The myfiles array is empty because the callback hasn’t been called before you call console.log().

You’ll need to do something like:

var fs = require('fs');
fs.readdir('./myfiles/',function(err,files){
    if(err) throw err;
    files.forEach(function(file){
        // do something with each file HERE!
    });
 });
 // because trying to do something with files here won't work because
 // the callback hasn't fired yet.

Remember, everything in node happens at the same time, in the sense that, unless you’re doing your processing inside your callbacks, you cannot guarantee asynchronous functions have completed yet.

One way around this problem for you would be to use an EventEmitter:

var fs=require('fs'),
    EventEmitter=require('events').EventEmitter,
    filesEE=new EventEmitter(),
    myfiles=[];

// this event will be called when all files have been added to myfiles
filesEE.on('files_ready',function(){
  console.dir(myfiles);
});

// read all files from current directory
fs.readdir('.',function(err,files){
  if(err) throw err;
  files.forEach(function(file){
    myfiles.push(file);
  });
  filesEE.emit('files_ready'); // trigger files_ready event
});