title: JS read json file and use as an object
body: <p>I'm trying so get the number of items in the array inside this piece</p>
  
  <p><strong>JSON</strong></p>
  
  <pre><code>{
    "collection" : [
      {
        "item": "apple"
      },
      {
        "item": "banana"
      }]
  }
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>Using the following <strong>JS</strong> <em>(NodeJS)</em>:
  <em>Updated with answers from user 'elssar'</em></p>
  
  <pre><code>var data = JSON.parse(fs.readFileSync(filePath));
  console.log(data.collection.length);
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>Expected result: <strong>2</strong></p>
  
  <p>Without specifying the encoding <code>data</code> will be a buffer instead of string (thanks to user nils). JSON.parse should work for both. Now I'm getting an error <code>Unexpected token ? at Object.parse (native)</code>. Any idea how to fix this? (using Node 5.2.0)</p>