How to update a value in a json file and save it through node.js

How do I update a value in a json file and save it through node.js? I have the file content:

var file_content = fs.readFileSync(filename);
var content = JSON.parse(file_content);
var val1 = content.val1;

Now I want to change the value of val1 and save it to the file.

Doing this asynchronously is quite easy. It's particularly useful if you're concerned with blocking the thread (likely). Otherwise, I'd suggest Peter Lyon's answer

const fs = require('fs');
const fileName = './file.json';
const file = require(fileName);
    
file.key = "new value";
    
fs.writeFile(fileName, JSON.stringify(file), function writeJSON(err) {
  if (err) return console.log(err);
  console.log(JSON.stringify(file));
  console.log('writing to ' + fileName);
});

The caveat is that json is written to the file on one line and not prettified. ex:

{
  "key": "value"
}

will be...

{"key": "value"}

To avoid this, simply add these two extra arguments to JSON.stringify

JSON.stringify(file, null, 2)

null - represents the replacer function. (in this case we don't want to alter the process)

2 - represents the spaces to indent.

//change the value in the in-memory object
content.val1 = 42;
//Serialize as JSON and Write it to a file
fs.writeFileSync(filename, JSON.stringify(content));

// read file and make object
let content = JSON.parse(fs.readFileSync('file.json', 'utf8'));
// edit or add property
content.expiry_date = 999999999999;
//write file
fs.writeFileSync('file.json', JSON.stringify(content));

addition to the previous answer add file path directory for the write operation

 fs.writeFile(path.join(__dirname,jsonPath), JSON.stringify(newFileData), function (err) {}

For those looking to add an item to a json collection

function save(item, path = './collection.json'){
    if (!fs.existsSync(path)) {
        fs.writeFile(path, JSON.stringify([item]));
    } else {
        var data = fs.readFileSync(path, 'utf8');  
        var list = (data.length) ? JSON.parse(data): [];
        if (list instanceof Array) list.push(item)
        else list = [item]  
        fs.writeFileSync(path, JSON.stringify(list));
    }
}

I would strongly recommend not to use synchronous (blocking) functions, as they hold other concurrent operations. Instead, use asynchronous fs.promises:

const fs = require('fs').promises

const setValue = (fn, value) => 
  fs.readFile(fn)
    .then(body => JSON.parse(body))
    .then(json => {
      // manipulate your data here
      json.value = value
      return json
    })
    .then(json => JSON.stringify(json))
    .then(body => fs.writeFile(fn, body))
    .catch(error => console.warn(error))

Remeber that setValue returns a pending promise, you'll need to use .then function or, within async functions, the await operator.

// await operator
await setValue('temp.json', 1)           // save "value": 1
await setValue('temp.json', 2)           // then "value": 2
await setValue('temp.json', 3)           // then "value": 3

// then-sequence
setValue('temp.json', 1)                 // save "value": 1
  .then(() => setValue('temp.json', 2))  // then save "value": 2
  .then(() => setValue('temp.json', 3))  // then save "value": 3

Save data after task completion

fs.readFile("./sample.json", 'utf8', function readFileCallback(err, data) {
        if (err) {
          console.log(err);
        } else {
          fs.writeFile("./sample.json", JSON.stringify(result), 'utf8', err => {
            if (err) throw err;
            console.log('File has been saved!');
          });
        }
      });