# Consistent async file reads: empty files now return no documents

> Async text_reader.aread() now returns an empty list ([]) for empty files, aligning behavior with the sync API. This removes special-case handling and simplifies downstream pipelines.

- Published: 2026-01-28
- Author: Agno Team
- Category: Changelog
- Canonical: https://agno-com-nine.vercel.app/articles/consistent-async-file-reads-empty-files-now-return-no-documents
- Markdown: https://agno-com-nine.vercel.app/articles/consistent-async-file-reads-empty-files-now-return-no-documents.md

Async text_reader.aread() now returns an empty list ([]) for empty files, aligning behavior with the sync API. This removes special-case handling and simplifies downstream pipelines.

Details:

- Consistent return types across sync and async code paths
- Reduced edge-case logic and clearer semantics for job orchestration
- Action required: Update any logic that expects a placeholder empty document

Who this is for: Teams running ingestion pipelines or ETL workflows that need predictable document handling.