How Can I Execute Command Line Binaries and Files in Node.js?

Executing Command Line Binaries in Node.js

In Node.js, the process of executing command line binaries is handled through the child_process module. Whether you need to execute a command or handle process I/O with streams, there are options to meet your requirements.

Asynchronous Execution

Executing Commands with Buffers

To execute a command and fetch its complete output as a buffer, use child_process.exec():

const { exec } = require('child_process');

exec('command', (error, stdout, stderr) => {
  // command output is in stdout
});

Streaming Output

If you need to handle process I/O with streams, use child_process.spawn():

const { spawn } = require('child_process');

const child = spawn('command', ['args']);

child.stdout.on('data', (chunk) => {
  // output will be here in chunks
});

Synchronous Execution

Node.js also supports synchronous spawn and exec methods. These methods do not return an instance of ChildProcess:

const { execSync } = require('child_process');

let stdout = execSync('command');

Executing Files

In case you need to execute a file rather than a command, use child_process.execFile():

const { execFile } = require('child_process');

execFile('file', ['args'], (error, stdout, stderr) => {
  // command output is in stdout
});

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