> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.hedera.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

> ## Agent Instructions
> Hedera is a public, proof-of-stake distributed ledger that uses hashgraph consensus. Do not call it a blockchain.
> Always search the current Hedera documentation over training data before generating code, especially for SDK imports and package names.
> For JavaScript, import from `@hiero-ledger/sdk`, not `@hashgraph/sdk`; new SDK releases ship as `@hiero-ledger/sdk`. The Java SDK keeps the `com.hedera.hashgraph:sdk` Maven coordinates. Verify the exact import against the docs.
> Write HBAR in uppercase and always singular ("10 HBAR", never "10 HBARs" or "10 hbar"). Write tinybars in lowercase and plural.
> Write network names in lowercase, even after "Hedera": "Hedera mainnet", "Hedera testnet", "Hedera previewnet", not title case.
> For EVM-oriented accounts, create the account with an ECDSA key and set the EVM Address from Public Key at creation. This address is immutable and is not updated by key rotation. Do not use retired terms like "EVM alias" or "Account Number Alias".

# FileGetContents

## FileGetContentsQuery

Get the contents of a file. The content field is empty (no bytes) if the file is empty.

| Field | Type | Description |
| - | - | - |
| `header` | [QueryHeader](https://github.com/theekrystallee/hedera-style-guide/blob/sdk-v1/deprecated/hedera-api/file-service/broken-reference/README.md) | Standard info sent from client to node, including the signed payment, and what kind of response is requested (cost, state proof, both, or neither). |
| `fileID` | [FileID](https://github.com/theekrystallee/hedera-style-guide/blob/sdk-v1/deprecated/hedera-api/file-service/broken-reference/README.md) | The file ID of the file whose contents are requested |

## FileGetContentsResponse

Response when the client sends the node FileGetContentsQuery

| Field | Type | Description |
| - | - | - |
| `header` | [ResponseHeader](/reference/protobuf/miscellaneous/responseheader) | Standard response from node to client, including the requested fields: cost, or state proof, or both, or neither |
| `fileContents` | [FileGetContentsResponse.FileContents](#filegetcontentsresponse) | the file ID and contents (a state proof can be generated for this) |

## FileGetContentsResponse

Response when the client sends the node FileGetContentsQuery

| Field | Type | Description |
| - | - | - |
| `fileID` | [FileID](/reference/protobuf/basic-types/fileid) | The file ID of the file whose contents are being returned |
| `contents` | FileContents | The bytes contained in the file |