# Error: ENOENT: no such file or directory

**Code:** `ENOENT` · **Category:** Node.js · **Seen on:** Node.js, npm

A file or directory the program tried to open doesn’t exist at that path.

## Meaning

Relative paths resolve from the process’s current working directory, not the script file — so code that works from one folder fails from another. In npm, “ENOENT … package.json” means you ran npm outside the project folder.

## Common causes

- Relative path resolved from a different working directory
- File not created/copied (build output, uploads, Docker COPY)
- npm command run outside the project (no package.json)
- Case mismatch on Linux
- Executable not found when spawning (`spawn git ENOENT`)

## Quick fix

1. Build paths from the script location: `path.join(__dirname, 'data.json')`
2. Check the exact path in the error exists
3. Run npm in the folder with package.json
4. For `spawn X ENOENT`, install X or fix PATH

## Detailed fix by platform

### Node.js

1. Robust path:

```javascript
const file = path.join(__dirname, 'config', 'settings.json');
```


## How to diagnose

1. **Path** — Exact path in the error
2. **CWD** — `process.cwd()` at runtime
3. **Exists** — Is the file present in this environment?

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Source: [WhatIsMyError](https://whatismyerror.com/errors/nodejs/enoent-no-such-file-or-directory)