I've found various answers to this on Stack Overflow and elsewhere.

Should I do this:

let data = fs.readFileSync(FILE_NAME, "utf8");

Or this:

let data = fs.readFileSync(FILE_NAME, {encoding: "utf8"});

?

I've found various answers to this on Stack Overflow and elsewhere.

Should I do this:

let data = fs.readFileSync(FILE_NAME, "utf8");

Or this:

let data = fs.readFileSync(FILE_NAME, {encoding: "utf8"});

?

• javascript
• node.js

• Consider reading docs first, please: nodejs/api/fs.html#fs_fs_readfile_path_options_callback – Kumar Shubham Commented May 19, 2018 at 12:03
• 4 @KumarShubham: I have asked this question after reading the doc which you've linked. The exact answer to my question is not there, which is why I have asked it. Consider reading a question carefully before you suggest material which doesn't answer it!!! – goodvibration Commented May 19, 2018 at 12:05
• The accepted answer gives straight reference from docs, Anyways, not your fault. Sorry :), It happens sometimes. – Kumar Shubham Commented May 19, 2018 at 15:21
• I guess the short answer is Use 'utf8' when you don't need e.g. flags – kungfooman Commented Nov 11, 2021 at 9:02

2 Answers 2

From the documentation, both are valid:

fs.readFileSync(path[, options])

• options <Object> | <string>
  • encoding <string> | <null> Default: null
  • flag <string> See support of file system flags. Default: 'r'.

The second argument may be either an options object, or an encoding name.

I don't think you need to mention encoding explicitly,since it is an optional parameter

var fs = require("fs");

/***
 * implementation of readFileSync
 */
var data = fs.readFileSync('input.txt');
console.log(data.toString());
console.log("Program Ended");

/***
 * implementation of readFile 
 */
fs.readFile('input.txt', function (err, data) {
    if (err) return console.error(err);
   console.log(data.toString());
});

console.log("Program Ended");

this worked even without providing "encoding" argument