readline-sync

What is readline-sync?

The readline-sync package is a Node.js module that allows synchronous readline interface for reading input from the console. It is designed to make it easy to prompt and get user input in a synchronous manner without the complexities of asynchronous callbacks. This package is particularly useful for CLI (Command Line Interface) applications where you need to ask questions, get user input, or display messages sequentially.

What are readline-sync's main functionalities?

Basic Input

This feature allows you to prompt the user for input and store their response. The `question` method displays a message to the user and waits for their input.

const readlineSync = require('readline-sync');
let userName = readlineSync.question('May I have your name? ');
console.log('Hi ' + userName + '!');

Password Input

This feature is used for password or sensitive information inputs. It hides the user's input on the screen to protect sensitive information.

const readlineSync = require('readline-sync');
let password = readlineSync.question('Enter your password: ', {
  hideEchoBack: true // The typed text on screen is hidden by `*` (default).
});

Multiple Choice List

This feature allows you to present a list of options to the user and let them choose. It is useful for menus or any choice-based interaction.

const readlineSync = require('readline-sync');
let animals = ['Lion', 'Elephant', 'Crocodile', 'Giraffe', 'Hippo'],
  index = readlineSync.keyInSelect(animals, 'Which animal?');
console.log('Ok, ' + animals[index] + ' goes to your room.');

Other packages similar to readline-sync

inquirer

Inquirer.js is a common alternative to readline-sync with a more extensive set of features for asking questions, parsing input, validating answers, and managing hierarchical prompts. Unlike readline-sync, which is synchronous, Inquirer.js is asynchronous and based on promises, making it more suitable for complex CLI applications that require non-blocking operations.

prompt

Prompt is another alternative that offers a simple interface for creating and managing a command-line prompt. It is less feature-rich compared to readline-sync and Inquirer.js but provides a straightforward way to get user input asynchronously. It supports validation, default values, and custom prompt types.

README

readlineSync

Synchronous Readline for interactively running to have a conversation with the user via a console(TTY).

readlineSync tries to let your script have a conversation with the user via a console, even when the input/output stream is redirected like your-script <foo.dat >bar.log.

Basic Options

Utility Methods

Placeholders

• Simple case:

var readlineSync = require('readline-sync');

// Wait for user's response.
var userName = readlineSync.question('May I have your name? ');
console.log('Hi ' + userName + '!');

// Handle the secret text (e.g. password).
var favFood = readlineSync.question('What is your favorite food? ', {
  hideEchoBack: true // The typed text on screen is hidden by `*` (default).
});
console.log('Oh, ' + userName + ' loves ' + favFood + '!');

May I have your name? CookieMonster
Hi CookieMonster!
What is your favorite food? ****
Oh, CookieMonster loves tofu!

• Get the user's response by a single key without the Enter key:

var readlineSync = require('readline-sync');
if (readlineSync.keyInYN('Do you want this module?')) {
  // 'Y' key was pressed.
  console.log('Installing now...');
  // Do something...
} else {
  // Another key was pressed.
  console.log('Searching another...');
  // Do something...
}

• Let the user choose an item from a list:

var readlineSync = require('readline-sync'),
  animals = ['Lion', 'Elephant', 'Crocodile', 'Giraffe', 'Hippo'],
  index = readlineSync.keyInSelect(animals, 'Which animal?');
console.log('Ok, ' + animals[index] + ' goes to your room.');

[1] Lion
[2] Elephant
[3] Crocodile
[4] Giraffe
[5] Hippo
[0] CANCEL

Which animal? [1...5 / 0]: 2
Ok, Elephant goes to your room.

• An UI like the Range Slider:
  (Press Z or X key to change a value, and Space Bar to exit)

var readlineSync = require('readline-sync'),
  MAX = 60, MIN = 0, value = 30, key;
console.log('\n\n' + (new Array(20)).join(' ') +
  '[Z] <- -> [X]  FIX: [SPACE]\n');
while (true) {
  console.log('\x1B[1A\x1B[K|' +
    (new Array(value + 1)).join('-') + 'O' +
    (new Array(MAX - value + 1)).join('-') + '| ' + value);
  key = readlineSync.keyIn('',
    {hideEchoBack: true, mask: '', limit: 'zx '});
  if (key === 'z') { if (value > MIN) { value--; } }
  else if (key === 'x') { if (value < MAX) { value++; } }
  else { break; }
}
console.log('\nA value the user requested: ' + value);

• Handle the commands repeatedly, such as the shell interface:

readlineSync.promptCLLoop({
  add: function(target, into) {
    console.log(target + ' is added into ' + into + '.');
    // Do something...
  },
  remove: function(target) {
    console.log(target + ' is removed.');
    // Do something...
  },
  bye: function() { return true; }
});
console.log('Exited');

> add pic01.png archive
pic01.png is added into archive.
> delete pic01.png
Requested command is not available.
> remove pic01.png
pic01.png is removed.
> bye
Exited

Installation

npm install readline-sync

Quick Start

How does the user input?

• Type a reply to a question, and press the Enter key (A)
• Type a keyword like a command in prompt, and press the Enter key (B)
• Press a single key without the Enter key (C)

(A) What does the user input?

• E-mail address
• New password
• Integer number
• Floating-point number
• Local file/directory path
• Others

(B) What does your script do?

• Receive a parsed command-name and arguments
• Receive an input repeatedly
• Receive a parsed command-name and arguments repeatedly
• Receive an input with prompt that is similar to that of the user's shell
• Others

(C) What does the user do?

• Say "Yes" or "No"
• Say "Yes" or "No" explicitly
• Make the running of script continue when ready
• Choose an item from a list
• Others

Basic Methods

These are used to control details of the behavior. It is recommended to use the Utility Methods instead of Basic Methods if it satisfy your request.

question

answer = readlineSync.question([query[, options]])

Display a query to the user if it's specified, and then return the input from the user after it has been typed and the Enter key was pressed.
You can specify an options (see Basic Options) to control the behavior (e.g. refusing unexpected input, avoiding trimming white spaces, etc.). If you let the user input the secret text (e.g. password), you should consider hideEchoBack option.

The query may be string, or may not be (e.g. number, Date, Object, etc.). It is converted to string (i.e. toString method is called) before it is displayed. (see Note also)
It can include the placeholders.

For example:

program = readlineSync.question('Which program starts do you want? ', {
  defaultInput: 'firefox'
});

prompt

input = readlineSync.prompt([options])

Display a prompt-sign (see prompt option) to the user, and then return the input from the user after it has been typed and the Enter key was pressed.
You can specify an options (see Basic Options) to control the behavior (e.g. refusing unexpected input, avoiding trimming white spaces, etc.).

For example:

while (true) {
  command = readlineSync.prompt();
  // Do something...
}

keyIn

pressedKey = readlineSync.keyIn([query[, options]])

Display a query to the user if it's specified, and then return a character as a key immediately it was pressed by the user, without pressing the Enter key. Note that the user has no chance to change the input.
You can specify an options (see Basic Options) to control the behavior (e.g. ignoring keys except some keys, checking target key, etc.).

The query is handled the same as that of the question method.

For example:

menuId = readlineSync.keyIn('Hit 1...5 key: ', {limit: '$<1-5>'});

setDefaultOptions

currentDefaultOptions = readlineSync.setDefaultOptions([newDefaultOptions])

Change the Default Options to the values of properties of newDefaultOptions Object.
All it takes is to specify options that you want change, because unspecified options are not updated.

Basic Options

prompt, hideEchoBack, mask, limit, limitMessage, defaultInput, trueValue, falseValue, caseSensitive, keepWhitespace, encoding, bufferSize, print, history, cd

An options Object can be specified to the methods to control the behavior of readlineSync. The options that were not specified to the methods are got from the Default Options. You can change the Default Options by setDefaultOptions method anytime, and it is kept until a current process is exited.
Specify the options that are often used to the Default Options, and specify temporary options to the methods.

For example:

readlineSync.setDefaultOptions({limit: ['green', 'yellow', 'red']});
a1 = readlineSync.question('Which color of signal? '); // Input is limited to 3 things.
a2 = readlineSync.question('Which color of signal? '); // It's limited yet.
a3 = readlineSync.question('What is your favorite color? ', {limit: null}); // It's unlimited temporarily.
a4 = readlineSync.question('Which color of signal? '); // It's limited again.
readlineSync.setDefaultOptions({limit: ['beef', 'chicken']});
a5 = readlineSync.question('Beef or Chicken? ');        // Input is limited to new 2 things.
a6 = readlineSync.question('And you? ');                // It's limited to 2 things yet.

The Object as options can have following properties.

prompt

For prompt* methods only
Type: string or others
Default: '> '

Set the prompt-sign that is displayed to the user by prompt* methods. For example you see > that is Node.js's prompt-sign when you run node on the command line.
This may be string, or may not be (e.g. number, Date, Object, etc.). It is converted to string every time (i.e. toString method is called) before it is displayed. (see Note also)
It can include the placeholders.

For example:

readlineSync.setDefaultOptions({prompt: '$ '});

// Display the memory usage always.
readlineSync.setDefaultOptions({
  prompt: { // Simple Object that has toString method.
    toString: function() {
      var rss = process.memoryUsage().rss;
      return '[' + (rss > 1024 ? Math.round(rss / 1024) + 'k' : rss) + 'b]$ ';
    }
  }
});

[13148kb]$ foo
[13160kb]$ bar
[13200kb]$

hideEchoBack

Type: boolean
Default: false

If true is specified, hide the secret text (e.g. password) which is typed by user on screen by the mask characters (see mask option).

For example:

password = readlineSync.question('PASSWORD: ', {hideEchoBack: true});
console.log('Login ...');

PASSWORD: ********
Login ...

mask

Type: string
Default: '*'

Set the mask characters that are shown instead of the secret text (e.g. password) when true is specified to hideEchoBack option. If you want to show nothing, specify ''. (But it might be not user friendly in some cases.)
Note: In some cases (e.g. when the input stream is redirected on Windows XP), '*' or '' might be used whether other one is specified.

For example:

secret = readlineSync.question('Please whisper sweet words: ', {
  hideEchoBack: true,
  mask: require('chalk').magenta('\u2665')
});

limit

Limit the user's input.
The usage differ depending on the method.

For question* and prompt* methods

Type: string, number, RegExp, function or Array
Default: []

Accept only the input that matches value that is specified to this. If the user input others, display a string that is specified to limitMessage option, and wait for reinput.

• The string is compared with the input. It is affected by caseSensitive option.
• The number is compared with the input that is converted to number by parseFloat(). For example, it interprets ' 3.14 ', '003.1400', '314e-2' and '3.14PI' as 3.14. And it interprets '005', '5files', '5kb' and '5px' as 5.
• The RegExp tests the input.
• The function that returns a boolean to indicate whether it matches is called with the input.

One of above or an Array that includes multiple things (or Array includes Array) can be specified.

For example:

command = readlineSync.prompt({limit: ['add', 'remove', /^clear( all)?$/]});
// ** But `promptCL` method should be used instead of this. **

file = readlineSync.question('Text File: ', {limit: /\.txt$/i});
// ** But `questionPath` method should be used instead of this. **

ip = readlineSync.question('IP Address: ', {limit: function(input) {
  return require('net').isIP(input); // Valid IP Address
}});

availableActions = [];
if (!blockExists())  { availableActions.push('jump'); }
if (isLarge(place))  { availableActions.push('run'); }
if (isNew(shoes))    { availableActions.push('kick'); }
if (isNearby(enemy)) { availableActions.push('punch'); }
action = readlineSync.prompt({limit: availableActions});
// ** But `promptCL` method should be used instead of this. **

For keyIn* method

Type: string, number or Array
Default: []

Accept only the key that matches value that is specified to this, ignore others.
Specify the characters as the key. All strings or Array of those are decomposed into single characters. For example, 'abcde' or ['a', 'bc', ['d', 'e']] are the same as ['a', 'b', 'c', 'd', 'e'].
These strings are compared with the input. It is affected by caseSensitive option.

The placeholders like '$<a-e>' are replaced to an Array that is the character list like ['a', 'b', 'c', 'd', 'e'].

For example:

direction = readlineSync.keyIn('Left or Right? ', {limit: 'lr'}); // 'l' or 'r'

dice = readlineSync.keyIn('Roll the dice, What will the result be? ',
  {limit: '$<1-6>'}); // range of '1' to '6'

limitMessage

For question* and prompt* methods only
Type: string
Default: 'Input another, please.$<( [)limit(])>'

Display this to the user when the limit option is specified and the user input others.
The placeholders can be included.

For example:

file = readlineSync.question('Name of Text File: ', {
  limit: /\.txt$/i,
  limitMessage: 'Sorry, $<lastInput> is not text file.'
});

defaultInput

For question* and prompt* methods only
Type: string
Default: ''

If the user input empty text (i.e. pressed the Enter key only), return this.

For example:

lang = readlineSync.question('Which language? ', {defaultInput: 'javascript'});

trueValue, falseValue

Type: string, number, RegExp, function or Array
Default: []

If the input matches trueValue, return true. If the input matches falseValue, return false. In any other case, return the input.

• The string is compared with the input. It is affected by caseSensitive option.
• The number is compared with the input that is converted to number by parseFloat(). For example, it interprets ' 3.14 ', '003.1400', '314e-2' and '3.14PI' as 3.14. And it interprets '005', '5files', '5kb' and '5px' as 5. Note that in keyIn* method, the input is every time one character (i.e. the number that is specified must be an integer within the range of 0 to 9).
• The RegExp tests the input.
• The function that returns a boolean to indicate whether it matches is called with the input.

One of above or an Array that includes multiple things (or Array includes Array) can be specified.

For example:

answer = readlineSync.question('How do you like it? ', {
  trueValue: ['yes', 'yeah', 'yep'],
  falseValue: ['no', 'nah', 'nope']
});
if (answer === true) {
  console.log('Let\'s go!');
} else if (answer === false) {
  console.log('Oh... It\'s ok...');
} else {
  console.log('Sorry. What does "' + answer + '" you said mean?');
}

caseSensitive

Type: boolean
Default: false

By default, the string comparisons are case-insensitive (i.e. a equals A). If true is specified, it is case-sensitive, the cases are not ignored (i.e. a is different from A).
It affects: limit, trueValue, falseValue, some placeholders, and some Utility Methods.

keepWhitespace

For question* and prompt* methods only
Type: boolean
Default: false

By default, remove the leading and trailing white spaces from the input text. If true is specified, don't remove those.

encoding

Type: string
Default: 'utf8'

Set the encoding method of the input and output.

bufferSize

For question* and prompt* methods only
Type: number
Default: 1024

When readlineSync reads from a console directly (without external program), use a size bufferSize buffer.
Even if the input by user exceeds it, it's usually no problem, because the buffer is used repeatedly. But some platforms's (e.g. Windows) console might not accept input that exceeds it. And set an enough size.
Note that this might be limited by version of Node.js and environment running your script (Big buffer size is usually not required). (See also: issue, PR)

print

Type: function or undefined
Default: undefined

Call the specified function with every output. The function is given two arguments, display as an output text, and a value of encoding option.

For example:

• Pass the plain texts to the Logger (e.g. log4js), after clean the colored texts.

var readlineSync = require('readline-sync'),
  chalk = require('chalk'),
  log4js = require('log4js'),
  logger, user, pw, command;

log4js.configure({appenders: [{type: 'file', filename: 'fooApp.log'}]});
logger = log4js.getLogger('fooApp');

readlineSync.setDefaultOptions({
  print: function(display, encoding)
    { logger.info(chalk.stripColor(display)); }, // Remove ctrl-chars.
  prompt: chalk.red.bold('> ')
});

console.log(chalk.black.bold.bgYellow('    Your Account    '));
user = readlineSync.question(chalk.gray.underline(' USER NAME ') + ' : ');
pw = readlineSync.question(chalk.gray.underline(' PASSWORD  ') + ' : ',
  {hideEchoBack: true});
// Authorization ...
console.log(chalk.green('Welcome, ' + user + '!'));
command = readlineSync.prompt();

• Output a conversation to a file when an output stream is redirected to record those into a file like your-script >foo.log. That is, a conversation isn't outputted to foo.log without this code.

readlineSync.setDefaultOptions({
  print: function(display, encoding)
    { process.stdout.write(display, encoding); }
});
var name = readlineSync.question('May I have your name? ');
var loc = readlineSync.question('Hi ' + name + '! Where do you live? ');

• Let somebody hear our conversation in real time.
  It just uses a fifo with above sample code that was named conv.js.

Another terminal:

mkfifo /tmp/fifo
cat /tmp/fifo

My terminal:

node conv.js >/tmp/fifo

May I have your name? Oz
Hi Oz! Where do you live? Emerald City

And then, another terminal shows this synchronously:

May I have your name? Oz
Hi Oz! Where do you live? Emerald City

history

For question* and prompt* methods only
Type: boolean
Default: true

readlineSync supports a history expansion feature that is similar to that of the shell. If false is specified, disable this feature.
It keeps a previous input only. That is, only !!, !-1, !!:p and !-1:p like bash or zsh etc. are supported.

• !! or !-1: Return a previous input.
• !!:p or !-1:p: Display a previous input but do not return it, and wait for reinput.

For example:

while (true) {
  input = readlineSync.prompt();
  console.log('-- You said "' + input + '"');
}

> hello
-- You said "hello"
> !!
hello
-- You said "hello"
> !!:p
hello
> bye
-- You said "bye"

cd

For question* and prompt* methods only
Type: boolean
Default: false

readlineSync supports the changing the current working directory feature that is similar to the cd and pwd commands in the shell. If true is specified, enable this feature.
This helps the user when you let the user input the multiple local files or directories.
It supports cd and pwd commands.

• cd <path>: Change the current working directory to <path>. The <path> can include ~ as the home directory.
• pwd: Display the current working directory.

When these were input, do not return, and wait for reinput.

For example:

while (true) {
  file = readlineSync.questionPath('File: ');
  console.log('-- Specified file is ' + file);
}

File: cd foo-dir/bar-dir
File: pwd
/path/to/foo-dir/bar-dir
File: file-a.js
-- Specified file is /path/to/foo-dir/bar-dir/file-a.js
File: file-b.png
-- Specified file is /path/to/foo-dir/bar-dir/file-b.png
File: file-c.html
-- Specified file is /path/to/foo-dir/bar-dir/file-c.html

Utility Methods

questionEMail, questionNewPassword, questionInt, questionFloat, questionPath, promptCL, promptLoop, promptCLLoop, promptSimShell, keyInYN, keyInYNStrict, keyInPause, keyInSelect

These are convenient methods that are extended Basic Methods to be used easily.

questionEMail

email = readlineSync.questionEMail([query[, options]])

Display a query to the user if it's specified, and then accept only a valid e-mail address, and then return it after the Enter key was pressed.

The query is handled the same as that of the question method.
The default value of query is 'Input e-mail address: '.

Note: The valid e-mail address requirement is a willful violation of RFC5322, this is defined in HTML5. This works enough to prevent the user mistaking. If you want to change it, specify limit option.

For example:

email = readlineSync.questionEMail();
console.log('-- E-mail is ' + email);

Input e-mail address: abc
Input valid e-mail address, please.
Input e-mail address: [e-mail]
-- E-mail is [e-mail]

Options

The following options have independent default value that is not affected by Default Options.

Option Name	Default Value
hideEchoBack	false
limit	RegExp by HTML5
limitMessage	'Input valid e-mail address, please.'
trueValue	null
falseValue	null

The following options work as shown in the Basic Options section.

mask	defaultInput	caseSensitive	encoding	bufferSize
print	history

questionNewPassword

password = readlineSync.questionNewPassword([query[, options]])

Display a query to the user if it's specified, and then accept only a valid password, and then request same one again, and then return it after the Enter key was pressed.
It's the password, or something that is the secret text like the password.
You can specify the valid password requirement to the options.

The query is handled the same as that of the question method.
The default value of query is 'Input new password: '.

Note: Only the form of password is checked. Check it more if you want. For example, zxcvbn is password strength estimation library.

For example:

password = readlineSync.questionNewPassword();
console.log('-- Password is ' + password);

Input new password: ************
It can include: 0...9, A...Z, a...z, !"#$%&'()*+,-./:;<=>?@[\]^_`{|}~
And the length must be: 12...24
Input new password: *************
Reinput a same one to confirm it: *************
It differs from first one. Hit only the Enter key if you want to retry from first one.
Reinput a same one to confirm it: *************
-- Password is _my_password_

Options

The following options have independent default value that is not affected by Default Options.

Option Name	Default Value
hideEchoBack	true
mask	'*'
limitMessage	'It can include: $<charlist>\nAnd the length must be: $<length>'
trueValue	null
falseValue	null
caseSensitive	true

The following options work as shown in the Basic Options section.

defaultInput

keepWhitespace

encoding

bufferSize

print

And the following additional options are available.

charlist

Type: string
Default: '$<!-~>'

A string as the characters that can be included in the password. For example, if 'abc123' is specified, the passwords that include any character other than these 6 characters are refused.
The placeholders like '$<a-e>' are replaced to the characters like 'abcde'.

For example, let the user input a password that is created with alphabet and some symbols:

password = readlineSync.questionNewPassword('PASSWORD: ', {charlist: '$<a-z>#$@%'});

min, max

Type: number
Default: min: 12, max: 24

min: A number as a minimum length of the password.
max: A number as a maximum length of the password.

confirmMessage

Type: string or others
Default: 'Reinput a same one to confirm it: '

A message that lets the user input the same password again.
It can include the placeholders.
If this is not string, it is converted to string (i.e. toString method is called).

unmatchMessage

Type: string or others
Default: 'It differs from first one. Hit only the Enter key if you want to retry from first one.'

A warning message that is displayed when the second input did not match first one.
This is converted the same as the confirmMessage option.

Additional Placeholders

The following additional placeholder parameters are available.

charlist

A current value of charlist option that is converted to human readable if possible. (e.g. 'A...Z')

length

A current value of min and max option that is converted to human readable. (e.g. '12...24')

questionInt

numInt = readlineSync.questionInt([query[, options]])

Display a query to the user if it's specified, and then accept only an input that can be interpreted as an integer, and then return the number (not string) after the Enter key was pressed.
This parses the input as much as possible by parseInt(). For example, it interprets ' 5 ', '5.6', '005', '5files', '5kb' and '5px' as 5.

The query is handled the same as that of the question method.

Options

The following option has independent default value that is not affected by Default Options.

Option Name	Default Value
limitMessage	'Input valid number, please.'

The following options work as shown in the Basic Options section.

hideEchoBack	mask	defaultInput	encoding	bufferSize
print	history

questionFloat

numFloat = readlineSync.questionFloat([query[, options]])

Display a query to the user if it's specified, and then accept only an input that can be interpreted as a floating-point number, and then return the number (not string) after the Enter key was pressed.
This parses the input as much as possible by parseFloat(). For example, it interprets ' 3.14 ', '003.1400', '314e-2' and '3.14PI' as 3.14.

The query is handled the same as that of the question method.

Options

The following option has independent default value that is not affected by Default Options.

Option Name	Default Value
limitMessage	'Input valid number, please.'

The following options work as shown in the Basic Options section.

hideEchoBack	mask	defaultInput	encoding	bufferSize
print	history

questionPath

path = readlineSync.questionPath([query[, options]])

Display a query to the user if it's specified, and then accept only a valid local file or directory path, and then return an absolute path after the Enter key was pressed.
The ~ that is input by the user is replaced to the home directory.
You can specify the valid local file or directory path requirement to the options. And you can make it create a new file or directory when it doesn't exist.

It is recommended to use this method with the cd option. (Default: true)

The query is handled the same as that of the question method.
The default value of query is 'Input path (you can "cd" and "pwd"): '.

For example:

sourceFile = readlineSync.questionPath('Read from: ', {
  isFile: true
});
console.log('-- sourceFile: ' + sourceFile);

saveDir = readlineSync.questionPath('Save to: ', {
  isDirectory: true,
  exists: null,
  create: true
});
console.log('-- saveDir: ' + saveDir);

Read from: ~/fileA
No such file or directory: /home/user/fileA
Input valid path, please.
Read from: pwd
/path/to/work
Read from: cd ~/project-1
Read from: fileA
-- sourceFile: /home/user/project-1/fileA
Save to: ~/deploy/data
-- saveDir: /home/user/deploy/data

Options

The following options have independent default value that is not affected by Default Options.

Option Name	Default Value
hideEchoBack	false
limitMessage	'$<error(\n)>Input valid path, please.$<( Min:)min>$<( Max:)max>'
history	true
cd	true

The following options work as shown in the Basic Options section.

mask

defaultInput

encoding

bufferSize

print

And the following additional options are available.

Note: It does not check the coherency about a combination of the options as the path requirement. For example, the {exists: false, isFile: true} never check that it is a file because it is limited to the path that does not exist.

exists

Type: boolean or others
Default: true

If true is specified, accept only a file or directory path that exists. If false is specified, accept only a file or directory path that does not exist.
In any other case, the existence is not checked.

min, max

Type: number or others
Default: undefined

min: A number as a minimum size of the file that is accepted.
max: A number as a maximum size of the file that is accepted.
If it is not specified or 0 is specified, the size is not checked. (A size of directory is 0.)

isFile, isDirectory

Type: boolean
Default: false

isFile: If true is specified, accept only a file path.
isDirectory: If true is specified, accept only a directory path.

validate

Type: function or undefined
Default: undefined

If a function that returns true or an error message is specified, call it with a path that was input, and accept the input when the function returned true.
If the function returned a string as an error message, that message is got by the error additional placeholder parameter.
A path that was input is parsed before it is passed to the function. ~ is replaced to a home directory, and a path is converted to an absolute path.
This is also a return value from this method.

For example, accept only PNG file or tell it to the user:

imageFile = readlineSync.questionPath('Image File: ', {
  validate: function(path) { return /\.png$/i.test(path) || 'It is not PNG'; }
});

create

Type: boolean
Default: false

If true is specified, create a file or directory as a path that was input when it doesn't exist. If true is specified to the isDirectory option, create a directory, otherwise a file.
It does not affect the existence check. Therefore, you can get a new file or directory path anytime by specifying: {exists: false, create: true}

Additional Placeholders

The following additional placeholder parameters are available.

error

An error message when the input was not accepted.
This value is set by readlineSync, or the function that was specified to validate option.

min, max

A current value of min and max option.

promptCL

argsArray = readlineSync.promptCL([commandHandler[, options]])

Display a prompt-sign (see prompt option) to the user, and then consider the input as a command-line and parse it, and then return a result after the Enter key was pressed.
A return value is an Array that includes the tokens that were parsed. It parses the input from the user as the command-line, and it interprets whitespaces, quotes, etc., and it splits it to tokens properly. Usually, a first element of the Array is command-name, and remaining elements are arguments.

For example:

argsArray = readlineSync.promptCL();
console.log(argsArray.join('\n'));

> command arg "arg" " a r g " "" 'a"r"g' "a""rg" "arg
command
arg
arg
 a r g 

a"r"g
arg
arg

commandHandler

By using the commandHandler argument, this method will come into its own. Specifying the Object to this argument has the more merit. And it has the more merit for promptCLLoop method.

If a function is specified to commandHandler argument, it is just called with a parsed Array as an argument list of the function. And this is an original input string, in the function.

For example, the following 2 codes work same except that this is enabled in the second one:

argsArray = readlineSync.promptCL();
if (argsArray[0] === 'add') {
  console.log(argsArray[1] + ' is added.');
} else if (argsArray[0] === 'copy') {
  console.log(argsArray[1] + ' is copied to ' + argsArray[2] + '.');
}

readlineSync.promptCL(function(command, arg1, arg2) {
  console.log('You want to: ' + this); // All of command-line.
  if (command === 'add') {
    console.log(arg1 + ' is added.');
  } else if (command === 'copy') {
    console.log(arg1 + ' is copied to ' + arg2 + '.');
  }
});

If an Object that has properties named as the command-name is specified, the command-name is interpreted, and a function as the value of matched property is called. A function is chosen properly by handling case of the command-name in accordance with the caseSensitive option.
The function is called with a parsed Array that excludes a command-name (i.e. first element is removed from the Array) as an argument list of the function.
That is, a structure of the commandHandler Object looks like:

{
  commandA: function(arg) { ... },        // commandA requires one argument.
  commandB: function(arg1, arg2) { ... }, // readlineSync doesn't care those.
  commandC: function() { ... }            // Of course, it can also ignore all.
}

readlineSync just receives the arguments from the user and passes those to these functions without checking. The functions may have to check whether the required argument was input by the user, and more validate those.

For example, the following code works same to the above code:

readlineSync.promptCL({
  add: function(element) { // It's called by also "ADD", "Add", "aDd", etc..
    console.log(element + ' is added.');
  },
  copy: function(from, to) {
    console.log(from + ' is copied to ' + to + '.');
  }
});

If the matched property is not found in the Object, a _ property is chosen, and the function as the value of this property is called with a parsed Array as an argument list of the function. Note that this includes a command-name. That is, the function looks like function(command, arg1, arg2, ...) { ... }.
And if the Object doesn't have a _ property, any command that the matched property is not found in the Object is refused.

For example:

readlineSync.promptCL({
  copy: function(from, to) { // command-name is not included.
    console.log(from + ' is copied to ' + to + '.');
  },
  _: function(command) { // command-name is included.
    console.log('Sorry, ' + command + ' is not available.');
  }
});

Options

The following options have independent default value that is not affected by Default Options.

Option Name	Default Value
hideEchoBack	false
limitMessage	'Requested command is not available.'
caseSensitive	false
history	true

The following options work as shown in the Basic Options section.

prompt	mask	defaultInput	encoding	bufferSize
print	cd

promptLoop

readlineSync.promptLoop(inputHandler[, options])

Display a prompt-sign (see prompt option) to the user, and then call inputHandler function with the input from the user after it has been typed and the Enter key was pressed. Do these repeatedly until inputHandler function returns true.

For example, the following 2 codes work same:

while (true) {
  input = readlineSync.prompt();
  console.log('-- You said "' + input + '"');
  if (input === 'bye') {
    break;
  }
}
console.log('It\'s exited from loop.');

readlineSync.promptLoop(function(input) {
  console.log('-- You said "' + input + '"');
  return input === 'bye';
});
console.log('It\'s exited from loop.');

> hello
-- You said "hello"
> good morning
-- You said "good morning"
> bye
-- You said "bye"
It's exited from loop.

Options

The following options have independent default value that is not affected by Default Options.

Option Name	Default Value
hideEchoBack	false
trueValue	null
falseValue	null
caseSensitive	false
history	true

The other options work as shown in the Basic Options section.

promptCLLoop

readlineSync.promptCLLoop([commandHandler[, options]])

Execute promptCL method repeatedly until chosen commandHandler returns true.
The commandHandler may be a function that is called like:

exit = allCommands(command, arg1, arg2, ...);

or an Object that has the functions that are called like:

exit = foundCommand(arg1, arg2, ...);

See promptCL method for details.
This method looks like a combination of promptCL method and promptLoop method.

For example:

readlineSync.promptCLLoop({
  add: function(element) {
    console.log(element + ' is added.');
  },
  copy: function(from, to) {
    console.log(from + ' is copied to ' + to + '.');
  },
  bye: function() { return true; }
});
console.log('It\'s exited from loop.');

> add "New Hard Disk"
New Hard Disk is added.
> move filesOnOld "New Hard Disk"
Requested command is not available.
> copy filesOnOld "New Hard Disk"
filesOnOld is copied to New Hard Disk.
> bye
It's exited from loop.

Options

The following options have independent default value that is not affected by Default Options.

Option Name	Default Value
hideEchoBack	false
limitMessage	'Requested command is not available.'
caseSensitive	false
history	true

The following options work as shown in the Basic Options section.

prompt	mask	defaultInput	encoding	bufferSize
print	cd

promptSimShell

input = readlineSync.promptSimShell([options])

Display a prompt-sign that is similar to that of the user's shell to the user, and then return the input from the user after it has been typed and the Enter key was pressed.
This method displays a prompt-sign like:

On Windows:

C:\Users\User\Path\To\Directory>

On others:

user@host:~/path/to/directory$ 

Options

The following options have independent default value that is not affected by Default Options.

Option Name	Default Value
hideEchoBack	false
history	true

The other options other than prompt option work as shown in the Basic Options section.

keyInYN

boolYesOrEmpty = readlineSync.keyInYN([query[, options]])

Display a query to the user if it's specified, and then return a boolean or an empty string immediately a key was pressed by the user, without pressing the Enter key. Note that the user has no chance to change the input.
This method works like the window.confirm method of web browsers. A return value means "Yes" or "No" the user said. It differ depending on the pressed key:

• Y: true
• N: false
• other: ''

The query is handled the same as that of the question method.
The default value of query is 'Are you sure? '.

The keys other than Y and N are also accepted (If you want to know a user's wish explicitly, use keyInYNStrict method). Therefore, if you let the user make an important decision (e.g. files are removed), check whether the return value is not falsy. That is, a default is "No".

For example:

if (!readlineSync.keyInYN('Do you want to install this?')) {
  // Key that is not `Y` was pressed.
  process.exit();
}
// Do something...

Or if you let the user stop something that must be done (e.g. something about the security), check whether the return value is false explicitly. That is, a default is "Yes".

For example:

// Don't use `(!readlineSync.keyInYN())`.
if (readlineSync.keyInYN('Continue virus scan?') === false) {
  // `N` key was pressed.
  process.exit();
}
// Continue...

Options

The following options work as shown in the Basic Options section.

encoding

print

And the following additional option is available.

guide

Type: boolean
Default: true

If true is specified, a string '[y/n]' as guide for the user is added to query. And ':' is moved to the end of query, or it is added.

For example:

readlineSync.keyInYN('Do you like me?'); // No colon
readlineSync.keyInYN('Really? :'); // Colon already exists

Do you like me? [y/n]: y
Really? [y/n]: y

keyInYNStrict

boolYes = readlineSync.keyInYNStrict([query[, options]])

Display a query to the user if it's specified, and then accept only Y or N key, and then return a boolean immediately it was pressed by the user, without pressing the Enter key. Note that the user has no chance to change the input.
This method works like the window.confirm method of web browsers. A return value means "Yes" or "No" the user said. It differ depending on the pressed key:

• Y: true
• N: false

The query is handled the same as that of the question method.
The default value of query is 'Are you sure? '.

A key other than Y and N is not accepted. That is, a return value has no default. Therefore, the user has to tell an own wish explicitly. If you want to know a user's wish easily, use keyInYN method.

This method works same to keyInYN method except that this accept only Y or N key (Therefore, a return value is boolean every time). The options also work same to keyInYN method.

keyInPause

readlineSync.keyInPause([query[, options]])

Display a query to the user if it's specified, and then just wait for a key to be pressed by the user.
This method works like the window.alert method of web browsers. This is used to make the running of script pause and show something to the user, or wait for the user to be ready.
By default, any key is accepted (See: Note). You can change this behavior by specifying limit option (e.g. accept only a Space Bar).

The query is handled the same as that of the question method.
The default value of query is 'Continue...'.

For example:

// Have made the preparations for something...
console.log('==== Information of Your Computer ====');
console.log(info); // This can be `query`.
readlineSync.keyInPause();
console.log('It\'s executing now...');
// Do something...

==== Information of Your Computer ====
FOO: 123456
BAR: abcdef
Continue... (Hit any key)
It's executing now...

Options

The following option has independent default value that is not affected by Default Options.

Option Name	Default Value
limit	null

The following options work as shown in the Basic Options section.

caseSensitive

encoding

print

And the following additional option is available.

guide

Type: boolean
Default: true

If true is specified, a string '(Hit any key)' as guide for the user is added to query.

For example:

readlineSync.keyInPause('It\'s pausing now...');

It's pausing now... (Hit any key)

Note

Control keys including Enter key are not accepted by keyIn* methods.
If you want to wait until the user presses Enter key, use question* methods instead of keyIn* methods. For example:

readlineSync.question('Hit Enter key to continue.', {hideEchoBack: true, mask: ''});

keyInSelect

index = readlineSync.keyInSelect(items[, query[, options]])

Display the list that was created with the items Array, and the query to the user if it's specified, and then return the number as an index of the items Array immediately it was chosen by pressing a key by the user, without pressing the Enter key. Note that the user has no chance to change the input.

The query is handled the same as that of the question method.
The default value of query is 'Choose one from list: '.

The minimum length of items Array is 1 and maximum length is 35. These elements are displayed as item list. A key to let the user choose an item is assigned to each item automatically in sequence like "1, 2, 3 ... 9, A, B, C ...". A number as an index of the items Array that corresponds to a chosen item by the user is returned.

Note: Even if the items Array has only less than 35 items, a long Array that forces an user to scroll the list may irritate the user. Remember, the user might be in a console environment that doesn't support scrolling the screen. If you want to use a long items Array (e.g. more than 10 items), you should consider a "Pagination". (See example.)

For example:

frameworks = ['Express', 'hapi', 'flatiron', 'MEAN.JS', 'locomotive'];
index = readlineSync.keyInSelect(frameworks, 'Which framework?');
console.log(frameworks[index] + ' is enabled.');

[1] Express
[2] hapi
[3] flatiron
[4] MEAN.JS
[5] locomotive
[0] CANCEL

Which framework? [1...5 / 0]: 2
hapi is enabled.

Options

The following option has independent default value that is not affected by Default Options.

Option Name	Default Value
hideEchoBack	false

The following options work as shown in the Basic Options section.

mask

encoding

print

And the following additional options are available.

guide

Type: boolean
Default: true

If true is specified, a string like '[1...5]' as guide for the user is added to query. And ':' is moved to the end of query, or it is added. This is the key list that corresponds to the item list.

cancel

Type: boolean, string or others
Default: 'CANCEL'

If a value other than false is specified, an item to let the user tell "cancel" is added to the item list. "[0] CANCEL" (default) is displayed, and if 0 key is pressed, -1 is returned.
You can specify a label of this item other than 'CANCEL'. A string such as 'Go back' (empty string '' also), something that is converted to string such as Date, a string that includes placeholder such as 'Next $<itemsCount> items' are accepted.

Additional Placeholders

The following additional placeholder parameters are available.

itemsCount

A length of a current items Array.

For example:

items = ['item-A', 'item-B', 'item-C', 'item-D', 'item-E'];
index = readlineSync.keyInSelect(items, null,
  {cancel: 'Show more than $<itemsCount> items'});

[1] item-A
[2] item-B
[3] item-C
[4] item-D
[5] item-E
[0] Show more than 5 items

firstItem

A first item in a current items Array.

For example:

index = readlineSync.keyInSelect(items, 'Choose $<firstItem> or another: ');

lastItem

A last item in a current items Array.

For example:

items = ['January', 'February', 'March', 'April', 'May', 'June'];
index = readlineSync.keyInSelect(items, null,
  {cancel: 'In after $<lastItem>'});

[1] January
[2] February
[3] March
[4] April
[5] May
[6] June
[0] In after June

Placeholders

hideEchoBack, mask, defaultInput, caseSensitive, keepWhitespace, encoding, bufferSize, history, cd, limit, trueValue, falseValue, limitCount, limitCountNotZero, lastInput, history_mN, cwd, CWD, cwdHome, date, time, localeDate, localeTime, C1-C2

The placeholders in the text are replaced to another string.

For example, the limitMessage option to display a warning message that means that the command the user requested is not available:

command = readlineSync.prompt({
  limit: ['add', 'remove'],
  limitMessage: '$<lastInput> is not available.'
});

> delete
delete is not available.

The placeholders can be included in:

• query argument
• prompt and limitMessage options
• limit option for keyIn* method and charlist option for questionNewPassword method (C1-C2 parameter only)
• And some additional options for the Utility Methods.

Syntax

$<parameter>

Or

$<(text1)parameter(text2)>

The placeholder is replaced to a string that is got by a parameter.
Both the (text1) and (text2) are optional.
A more added '$' at the left of the placeholder is used as an escape character, it disables a placeholder. For example, '$$<foo>' is replaced to '$<foo>'. If you want to put a '$' which is not an escape character at the left of a placeholder, specify it like '$<($)bufferSize>', then it is replaced to '$1024'.

At the each position of '(text1)' and '(text2)', 'text1' and 'text2' are put when a string that was got by a parameter has more than 0 length. If that got string is '', a placeholder with or without '(text1)' and '(text2)' is replaced to ''.

For example, a warning message that means that the command the user requested is not available:

command = readlineSync.prompt({
  limit: ['add', 'remove'],
  limitMessage: 'Refused $<lastInput> you requested. Please input another.'
});

> give-me-car
Refused give-me-car you requested. Please input another.

It looks like no problem.
But when the user input nothing (hit only the Enter key), and then a message is displayed:

> 
Refused  you requested. Please input another.

This goes well:

command = readlineSync.prompt({
  limit: ['add', 'remove'],
  limitMessage: 'Refused $<lastInput( you requested)>. Please input another.'
});

> 
Refused . Please input another.

(May be more better: '$<(Refused )lastInput( you requested. )>Please input another.')

Note: The syntax ${parameter} of older version is still supported, but this should not be used because it may be confused with template string syntax of ES6. And this will not be supported in due course of time.

Parameters

The following parameters are available. And some additional parameters are available in the Utility Methods.

hideEchoBack, mask, defaultInput, caseSensitive, keepWhitespace, encoding, bufferSize, history, cd, limit, trueValue, falseValue

A current value of each option.
It is converted to human readable if possible. The boolean value is replaced to 'on' or 'off', and the Array is replaced to the list of only string and number elements.
And in the keyIn* method, the parts of the list as characters sequence are suppressed. For example, when ['a', 'b', 'c', 'd', 'e'] is specified to the limit option, '$<limit>' is replaced to 'a...e'. If true is specified to the caseSensitive option, the characters are converted to lower case.

For example:

input = readlineSync.question(
  'Input something or the Enter key as "$<defaultInput>": ',
  {defaultInput: 'hello'}
);

Input something or the Enter key as "hello":

limitCount, limitCountNotZero

A length of a current value of the limit option.
When the value of the limit option is empty, '$<limitCount>' is replaced to '0', '$<limitCountNotZero>' is replaced to ''.

For example:

action = readlineSync.question(
  'Choose action$<( from )limitCountNotZero( actions)>: ',
  {limit: availableActions}
);

Choose action from 5 actions:

lastInput

A last input from the user.
In any case, this is saved.

For example:

command = readlineSync.prompt({
  limit: availableCommands,
  limitMessage: '$<lastInput> is not available.'
});

> wrong-command
wrong-command is not available.

history_mN

When the history expansion feature is enabled (see history option), a current command line minus N.
This feature keeps the previous input only. That is, only history_m1 is supported.

For example:

while (true) {
  input = readlineSync.question('Something$<( or "!!" as ")history_m1(")>: ');
  console.log('-- You said "' + input + '"');
}

Something: hello
-- You said "hello"
Something or "!!" as "hello": !!
hello
-- You said "hello"

cwd, CWD, cwdHome

A current working directory.

• cwd: A full-path
• CWD: A directory name
• cwdHome: A path that includes ~ as the home directory

For example, like bash/zsh:

command = readlineSync.prompt({prompt: '[$<cwdHome>]$ '});

[~/foo/bar]$ 

date, time, localeDate, localeTime

A string as current date or time.

• date: A date portion
• time: A time portion
• localeDate: A locality sensitive representation of the date portion based on system settings
• localeTime: A locality sensitive representation of the time portion based on system settings

For example:

command = readlineSync.prompt({prompt: '[$<localeDate>]> '});

[04/21/2015]> 

C1-C2

For limit option for keyIn* method and charlist option for questionNewPassword method only

A character list.
C1 and C2 are each single character as the start and the end. A sequence in ascending or descending order of characters ranging from C1 to C2 is created. For example, '$<a-e>' is replaced to 'abcde'. '$<5-1>' is replaced to '54321'.

For example, let the user input a password that is created with alphabet:

password = readlineSync.questionNewPassword('PASSWORD: ', {charlist: '$<a-z>'});

See also limit option for keyIn* method.

Special method getRawInput

rawInput = readlineSync.getRawInput()

Return a raw input data of last method.
When the input was terminated with no data, a NULL is inserted to the data.

This might contain control-codes (e.g. LF, CR, EOF, etc.), therefore, it might be used to get ^D that was input. But you should understand each environments for that. Or, you should not use this if your script is used in multiple environments.
For example, when the user input EOF (^D in Unix like system, ^Z in Windows), x1A (EOF) is returned in Windows, and x00 (NULL) is returned in Unix like system. And x04 (EOT) is returned in Unix like system with raw-mode. And also, when external program is used, nothing is returned. See also Control characters.
You may examine each environment and you must test your script very much, if you want to handle the raw input data.

With Task Runner

The easy way to control a flow of the task runner by the input from the user:

• Grunt plugin: grunt-confirm
• gulp plugin: gulp-confirm

If you want to control a flow of the task runner (e.g. Grunt), call readlineSync in a task callback that is called by the task runner. Then a flow of tasks is paused and it is controlled by the user.

For example, by using grunt-task-helper:

$ grunt
Running "fileCopy" task
Files already exist:
  file-a.png
  file-b.js
Overwrite? [y/n]: y
file-a.png copied.
file-b.js copied.
Done.

Gruntfile.js

grunt.initConfig({
  taskHelper: {
    fileCopy: {
      options: {
        handlerByTask: function() {
          // Abort the task if user don't want it.
          return readlineSync.keyInYN('Overwrite?');
        },
        filesArray: []
      },
      ...
    }
  },
  copy: {
    fileCopy: {
      files: '<%= taskHelper.fileCopy.options.filesArray %>'
    }
  }
});

Note

Platforms

TTY interfaces are different by the platforms. If the platform doesn't support the interactively reading from TTY, an error is thrown.

try {
  answer = readlineSync.question('What is your favorite food? ');
} catch (e) {
  console.error(e);
  process.exit(1);
}

Control characters

TTY interfaces are different by the platforms. In some environments, ANSI escape sequences might be ignored. For example, in non-POSIX TTY such as Windows CMD does not support it (that of Windows 8 especially has problems). Since readlineSync does not use Node.js library that emulates POSIX TTY (but that is still incomplete), those characters may be not parsed. Then, using ANSI escape sequences is not recommended if you will support more environments.
Also, control characters user input might be not accepted or parsed. That behavior differs depending on the environment. And current Node.js does not support controlling a readline system library.

Reading by external program

readlineSync tries to read from a console by using the external program if it is needed (e.g. when the input stream is redirected on Windows XP). And if the running Node.js doesn't support the Synchronous Process Execution (i.e. Node.js v0.10-), readlineSync uses "piping via files" for the synchronous execution.
As everyone knows, "piping via files" is no good. It blocks the event loop and a process. It might make the your script be slow.

Why did I choose it? :

• Good modules (native addon) for the synchronous execution exist, but node-gyp can't compile those in some platforms or Node.js versions.
• I think that the security is important more than the speed. Some modules have problem about security. Those don't protect the data. I think that the speed is not needed usually, because readlineSync is used while user types keys.

Deprecated methods and options

See README-Deprecated.md.