H4cKL0rD
H4cKL0rD

Reputation: 5508

Can javascript be used to write to a file?

Can javascript be used to write to a file ? Sorry restate that (Can javascript be used to write to a file on the web server it is hosted on? ).

Upvotes: 2

Views: 581

Answers (9)

Hogan
Hogan

Reputation: 70523

They used to call cookies "really small files on your computer", so I say: "Yes, yes it can."

update based on edit

Yes, you have to use AJAX to call a web service on the web server.

Upvotes: 4

acheo
acheo

Reputation: 3126

You could make an Ajax call to a web service which would either save the file for you on the server or perhaps serve it back to the browser for download

using jQuery


$.ajax({
   type: "POST",
   url: "save.php",
   data: "name=Bob&Age=1",
   success: function(msg){
     alert( "Data Saved: " + msg );
   }
 });

Upvotes: 1

alemjerus
alemjerus

Reputation: 8268

It depends on a platform. Some platforms (like Windows), allow javascript to access filesystem (in Windows - via FileSystemObject ActiveX object). But client's browser security settings must be adjusted to allow this.

Upvotes: 0

zneak
zneak

Reputation: 138051

Javascript cannot directly write to a file on the webserver on which it is hosted. If it is required, you can use something like an XMLHttpRequest object to communicate your means to a serverside script (like PHP or Python), which will then do the write.

Javascript code is executed on the client side. It does not directly have access to your server.

Upvotes: 0

code_burgar
code_burgar

Reputation: 12323

On it's own, no.. at least without exploiting browser / plugin vulnerabilities.

Since you clarified your question:

It can be used to do an ajax call to a server-side script which would then write a file into the file system.

Upvotes: 1

Gabe Moothart
Gabe Moothart

Reputation: 32082

No. if you need to store data on the client, you can use cookies, Google Gears, or the client-side storage supported by modern browsers like firefox and safari.

The YUI Storage Utility is a nice cross-browser wrapper around these methods.

Upvotes: 1

Mark Schultheiss
Mark Schultheiss

Reputation: 34168

It can if the "file" is a cookie. I will leave research on that up to the reader.

Upvotes: 2

Stefan Kendall
Stefan Kendall

Reputation: 67832

Not cross-compatibly, unless you do certain trickery. A trusted applet, for example, has complete access to the user's file system, and it can expose javascript methods. Expose a write method in a trusted applet, and you're good to go.

Upvotes: 1

ChristopheD
ChristopheD

Reputation: 116157

Unless used in server-side contexts: no, sorry.

Upvotes: 0

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