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Working with the File System ​

WebContainer API gives you access to work with a virtual file system, right in memory. This page covers the mental model of how files are structured in WebContainers, how to load files and directories, as well as what file system operations are available in the API.

Mental model ​

A common package.json file in WebContainers is represented as a data structure of the following shape:

js
const files = {
  // This is a file - provide its path as a key:
  'package.json': {
    // Because it's a file, add the "file" key
    file: {
      // Now add its contents
      contents: `
        {
          "name": "vite-starter",
          "private": true,
         // ...
          },
          "devDependencies": {
            "vite": "^4.0.4"
          }
        }`,
    },
  },
};
const files = {
  // This is a file - provide its path as a key:
  'package.json': {
    // Because it's a file, add the "file" key
    file: {
      // Now add its contents
      contents: `
        {
          "name": "vite-starter",
          "private": true,
         // ...
          },
          "devDependencies": {
            "vite": "^4.0.4"
          }
        }`,
    },
  },
};

It is a multiple-level nested object with the first key being the path, the second is called "file", and the third, which contains the actual contents of the file, is called "contents".

Similarly, a folder is represented in WebContainers as follows:

js
const files = {
  // This is a directory - provide its name as a key
  src: {
    // Because it's a directory, add the "directory" key
    directory: {
      // Here we will add files
    },
  },
};
const files = {
  // This is a directory - provide its name as a key
  src: {
    // Because it's a directory, add the "directory" key
    directory: {
      // Here we will add files
    },
  },
};

Folder with a file is represented as follows:

js
const files = {
  // This is a directory - provide its name as a key
  src: {
    // Because it's a directory, add the "directory" key
    directory: {
      // This is a file - provide its path as a key:
      'main.js': {
        // Because it's a file, add the "file" key
        file: {
          contents: `
            console.log('Hello from WebContainers!')
          `,
        },
      },
    },
  },
};
const files = {
  // This is a directory - provide its name as a key
  src: {
    // Because it's a directory, add the "directory" key
    directory: {
      // This is a file - provide its path as a key:
      'main.js': {
        // Because it's a file, add the "file" key
        file: {
          contents: `
            console.log('Hello from WebContainers!')
          `,
        },
      },
    },
  },
};

Loading files ​

Use the mount method to load a file into the WebContainer's file system. The method expects an object following the structure of FileSystemTree, a type exported from @webcontainer/api. If you're not a TypeScript user, you can still leverage this using JSDoc.

Single file ​

To load a single file into a WebContainer instance, follow this format:

js
/** @type {import('@webcontainer/api').FileSystemTree} */

const files = {
  'package.json': {
    file: {
      contents: `
        {
          "name": "vite-starter",
          "private": true,
          "version": "0.0.0",
          "type": "module",
          "scripts": {
            "dev": "vite",
            "build": "vite build",
            "preview": "vite preview"
          },
          "devDependencies": {
            "vite": "^4.0.4"
          }
        }`,
    },
  },
};

await webcontainerInstance.mount(files);
/** @type {import('@webcontainer/api').FileSystemTree} */

const files = {
  'package.json': {
    file: {
      contents: `
        {
          "name": "vite-starter",
          "private": true,
          "version": "0.0.0",
          "type": "module",
          "scripts": {
            "dev": "vite",
            "build": "vite build",
            "preview": "vite preview"
          },
          "devDependencies": {
            "vite": "^4.0.4"
          }
        }`,
    },
  },
};

await webcontainerInstance.mount(files);

This code loads a single file, package.json, at the root of your file system. Now you can read the file using readFile method:

js
const file = await webcontainerInstance.fs.readFile('/package.json');
const file = await webcontainerInstance.fs.readFile('/package.json');

Multiple files ​

To load multiple files to a WebContainer instance, add another key to the object you pass to mount method:

js
/** @type {import('@webcontainer/api').FileSystemTree} */

const files = {
  'package.json': {
    file: {
      contents: `
        {
          "name": "vite-starter",
          "private": true,
          "version": "0.0.0",
          "type": "module",
          "scripts": {
            "dev": "vite",
            "build": "vite build",
            "preview": "vite preview"
          },
          "devDependencies": {
            "vite": "^4.0.4"
          }
        }`,
    },
  },
  'index.html': {
    file: {
      contents: `
        <!DOCTYPE html>
        <html lang="en">
          <head>
            <meta charset="UTF-8" />
            <link rel="icon" type="image/svg+xml" href="/vite.svg" />
            <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0" />
            <title>Vite App</title>
          </head>
          <body>
            <div id="app"></div>
            <script type="module" src="/src/main.js"></script>
          </body>
        </html>`,
    },
  },
};

await webcontainerInstance.mount(files);
/** @type {import('@webcontainer/api').FileSystemTree} */

const files = {
  'package.json': {
    file: {
      contents: `
        {
          "name": "vite-starter",
          "private": true,
          "version": "0.0.0",
          "type": "module",
          "scripts": {
            "dev": "vite",
            "build": "vite build",
            "preview": "vite preview"
          },
          "devDependencies": {
            "vite": "^4.0.4"
          }
        }`,
    },
  },
  'index.html': {
    file: {
      contents: `
        <!DOCTYPE html>
        <html lang="en">
          <head>
            <meta charset="UTF-8" />
            <link rel="icon" type="image/svg+xml" href="/vite.svg" />
            <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0" />
            <title>Vite App</title>
          </head>
          <body>
            <div id="app"></div>
            <script type="module" src="/src/main.js"></script>
          </body>
        </html>`,
    },
  },
};

await webcontainerInstance.mount(files);

Folders ​

Take a look at the src directory in this file tree:

yaml
- src
  - main.js
  - main.css
- index.html
- package.json
- src
  - main.js
  - main.css
- index.html
- package.json

In WebContainers, it will be reflected in the following format:

js
/** @type {import('@webcontainer/api').FileSystemTree} */

const files = {
  // This is a directory - provide its name as a key
  src: {
    // Because it's a directory, add the "directory" key
    directory: {
      // This is a file - provide its path as a key:
      'main.js': {
        // Because it's a file, add the "file" key
        file: {
          contents: `
            console.log('Hello from WebContainers!')
          `,
        },
      },
      // This is another file inside the same folder
      'main.css': {
        // Because it's a file, add the "file" key
        file: {
          contents: `
            body {
              margin: 0;
            }
          `,
        },
      },
    },
  },
  // This is a file outside the folder
  'package.json': {
    /* Omitted for brevity */
  },
  // This is another file outside the folder
  'index.html': {
    /* Omitted for brevity */
  },
};

await webcontainerInstance.mount(files);
/** @type {import('@webcontainer/api').FileSystemTree} */

const files = {
  // This is a directory - provide its name as a key
  src: {
    // Because it's a directory, add the "directory" key
    directory: {
      // This is a file - provide its path as a key:
      'main.js': {
        // Because it's a file, add the "file" key
        file: {
          contents: `
            console.log('Hello from WebContainers!')
          `,
        },
      },
      // This is another file inside the same folder
      'main.css': {
        // Because it's a file, add the "file" key
        file: {
          contents: `
            body {
              margin: 0;
            }
          `,
        },
      },
    },
  },
  // This is a file outside the folder
  'package.json': {
    /* Omitted for brevity */
  },
  // This is another file outside the folder
  'index.html': {
    /* Omitted for brevity */
  },
};

await webcontainerInstance.mount(files);

To sum up. If the file you're loading is a folder, add a key directory and then proceed with adding its files.

Mounting to a different path ​

By default, the files are mounted into the file system to the root folder. However, you can mount them to a different path by using the mountPoint property:

js
/** @type {import('@webcontainer/api').FileSystemTree} */

const files = {
  'package.json': {
    /* Omitted for brevity */
  },
  'index.html': {
    /* Omitted for brevity */
  },
};

await webcontainerInstance.mount(files, { mountPoint: 'my-mount-point' });
/** @type {import('@webcontainer/api').FileSystemTree} */

const files = {
  'package.json': {
    /* Omitted for brevity */
  },
  'index.html': {
    /* Omitted for brevity */
  },
};

await webcontainerInstance.mount(files, { mountPoint: 'my-mount-point' });

WARNING

Before you mount, make sure that the folder you are mounting to exists. If it doesn't, WebContainers will throw an error.

You can create a folder using mkdir method:

js
await webcontainerInstance.fs.mkdir('my-mount-point');
await webcontainerInstance.mount(files, { mountPoint: 'my-mount-point' });
await webcontainerInstance.fs.mkdir('my-mount-point');
await webcontainerInstance.mount(files, { mountPoint: 'my-mount-point' });

Generating snapshots ​

The mount() method not only accepts the tree-like format we described above, but a binary snapshot format that can be automatically generated, using the @webcontainer/snapshot package. Suppose we want our WebContainer API application to mount a source code folder that is present on our server. In that case, we could do the following:

typescript
import { snapshot } from '@webcontainer/snapshot';

// snapshot is a `Buffer`
const folderSnapshot = await snapshot(SOURCE_CODE_FOLDER);

// for an express-based application
app.get('/snapshot', (req, res) => {
  res
    .setHeader('content-type', 'application/octet-stream')
    .send(snapshot);
});

// for a SvelteKit-like application
export function getSnapshot(req: Request) {
  return new Response(sourceSnapshot, {
    headers: {
      'content-type': 'application/octet-stream',
    },
  });
}
import { snapshot } from '@webcontainer/snapshot';

// snapshot is a `Buffer`
const folderSnapshot = await snapshot(SOURCE_CODE_FOLDER);

// for an express-based application
app.get('/snapshot', (req, res) => {
  res
    .setHeader('content-type', 'application/octet-stream')
    .send(snapshot);
});

// for a SvelteKit-like application
export function getSnapshot(req: Request) {
  return new Response(sourceSnapshot, {
    headers: {
      'content-type': 'application/octet-stream',
    },
  });
}

Now, on the client side of our application we can fetch that snapshot and mount it:

typescript
import { WebContainer } from '@webcontainer/api';

const webcontainer = await WebContainer.boot();

const snapshotResponse = await fetch('/snapshot');
const snapshot = await snapshotResponse.arrayBuffer();

await webcontainer.mount(snapshot);
import { WebContainer } from '@webcontainer/api';

const webcontainer = await WebContainer.boot();

const snapshotResponse = await fetch('/snapshot');
const snapshot = await snapshotResponse.arrayBuffer();

await webcontainer.mount(snapshot);

File System operations (fs) ​

WebContainers expose an fs property on the WebContainer instance (webcontainerInstance). Currently, fs supports a few methods:

Let's take a closer look at them.

readFile ​

Reads the file at the given path. If the file does not exist, it will throw an error.

js
const file = await webcontainerInstance.fs.readFile('/package.json');
//    ^ it is a UInt8Array
const file = await webcontainerInstance.fs.readFile('/package.json');
//    ^ it is a UInt8Array

By default, it returns a UInt8Array. You can pass a second argument to readFile to specify the encoding:

js
const file = await webcontainerInstance.fs.readFile('/package.json', 'utf-8');
//    ^ it is a string
const file = await webcontainerInstance.fs.readFile('/package.json', 'utf-8');
//    ^ it is a string

readdir ​

Reads a given directory and returns an array of its files and directories.

js
const files = await webcontainerInstance.fs.readdir('/src');
//    ^ is an array of strings
const files = await webcontainerInstance.fs.readdir('/src');
//    ^ is an array of strings

If the directory doesn't exist, it will throw an error.

The readdir method takes two options: withFileTypes and encoding.

withFileTypes ​

When withFileTypes is set to true, the return value is an array of Dirent objects. Dirent objects have the following properties:

  • name - the name of the file or directory
  • isFile() - whether the entry is a file
  • isDirectory() - whether the entry is a directory
js
const files = await webcontainerInstance.fs.readdir('/src', {
  withFileTypes: true,
});
const files = await webcontainerInstance.fs.readdir('/src', {
  withFileTypes: true,
});

encoding ​

By default, readdir returns an array of strings. You can pass encoding option to readdir to specify the encoding.

js
const files = await webcontainerInstance.fs.readdir('/src', { encoding: 'buffer' });
//    ^ it is an array of UInt8Array
const files = await webcontainerInstance.fs.readdir('/src', { encoding: 'buffer' });
//    ^ it is an array of UInt8Array

rm ​

Deletes a file or a directory. If the path is a file, it will delete the file. If the path is a directory, you need to provide a second argument with options recursive set to true to delete the directory and everything inside it, including nested folders.

js
// Delete a file
await webcontainerInstance.fs.rm('/src/main.js');

// Delete a directory
await webcontainerInstance.fs.rm('/src', { recursive: true });
// Delete a file
await webcontainerInstance.fs.rm('/src/main.js');

// Delete a directory
await webcontainerInstance.fs.rm('/src', { recursive: true });

You can also use force option to delete.

writeFile ​

Writes a file to the given path. If the file does not exist, it will create a new one. If the file exists, it will overwrite the file.

js
await webcontainerInstance.fs.writeFile('/src/main.js', 'console.log("Hello from WebContainers!")');
await webcontainerInstance.fs.writeFile('/src/main.js', 'console.log("Hello from WebContainers!")');

You can pass a third argument to writeFile to specify the encoding.

js
await webcontainerInstance.fs.writeFile(
  '/src/main.js',
  '\xE5\x8D\x83\xE8\x91\x89\xE5\xB8\x82\xE3\x83\x96\xE3\x83\xAB\xE3\x83\xBC\xE3\x82\xB9',
  { encoding: 'latin1' }
);
await webcontainerInstance.fs.writeFile(
  '/src/main.js',
  '\xE5\x8D\x83\xE8\x91\x89\xE5\xB8\x82\xE3\x83\x96\xE3\x83\xAB\xE3\x83\xBC\xE3\x82\xB9',
  { encoding: 'latin1' }
);

mkdir ​

Creates a directory at the given path. If the directory already exists, it will throw an error.

js
await webcontainerInstance.fs.mkdir('src');
await webcontainerInstance.fs.mkdir('src');

You can use recursive option to create a nested folder very easily.

js
await webcontainerInstance.fs.mkdir('this/is/my/nested/folder', { recursive: true });
await webcontainerInstance.fs.mkdir('this/is/my/nested/folder', { recursive: true });

Next steps ​

Explore WebContainer API in our WebContainers starter, explore the API Reference or follow our tutorial and build your first WebContainer app!