Write a Node.js script that summarizes a text file

I want a script I can run from the terminal on any file, not one where I open the code and change a filename by hand.

Beginner to intermediateRead 5 minDoing: 20 minutes6 steps

▶ Start

What you'll have at the end

A command-line script that prints a line count and word count for any file you name after it

Before you start

You need

A Node.js installation on your machine, and a text file you want a quick line and word count for.

Not covered

Adding extra flags such as a verbose switch, or reading piped input instead of a named file, is not covered here; this handles exactly one filename argument.

Leans on

JavaScript Cheat Sheetthe file-reading row this recipe builds on lives in the Node.js runtime table there
Node.js Cheat Sheetthe command-line argument and error-handling rows this recipe wires together both live there

6 steps

Checked 21 Aug 2026

Part of the JavaScript cookbook