How to Execute Shell Commands in JavaScript with the Node.js \'child_process\' Module?

Executing Shell Commands in JavaScript

In JavaScript, you may encounter the need to execute system shell commands, such as "ls," to retrieve and process system information. The Node.js platform provides a solution for this task utilizing the "child_process" module.

Implementation

To effectively execute shell commands in JavaScript, follow these steps:

1. Import the 'child_process' module: Begin by importing the "child_process" module into your code. This module enables the interaction with external processes and the execution of system commands.
2. Utilize the 'exec' function: The "exec" function is key for executing shell commands. Its syntax is as follows:

exec(command, callback)

Where:

• "command" represents the shell command you want to execute.
• "callback" is invoked once the child process finishes execution, and it receives the "error," "stdout," and "stderr" variables as parameters.

3. Example usage: Consider the following code snippet that demonstrates how to execute the "ls" command to list the files in the current directory:

var exec = require('child_process').exec;

exec('ls', function (error, stdout, stderr) {
    console.log('Stdout: ' + stdout);
    console.log('Stderr: ' + stderr);
    if (error) {
        console.log('Error: ' + error);
    }
});

This example demonstrates how to execute the "ls" command and log the results to the console. The "stdout" variable will contain the output of the executed command, while the "stderr" variable will capture any errors encountered during execution.

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