diff --git a/cli/js/files.ts b/cli/js/files.ts
index d6df8bad03..83922627a0 100644
--- a/cli/js/files.ts
+++ b/cli/js/files.ts
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ import {
 export { OpenOptions } from "./ops/fs/open.ts";
 
 export function openSync(
-  path: string,
+  path: string | URL,
   options: OpenOptions = { read: true }
 ): File {
   checkOpenOptions(options);
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ export function openSync(
 }
 
 export async function open(
-  path: string,
+  path: string | URL,
   options: OpenOptions = { read: true }
 ): Promise<File> {
   checkOpenOptions(options);
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ export async function open(
   return new File(rid);
 }
 
-export function createSync(path: string): File {
+export function createSync(path: string | URL): File {
   return openSync(path, {
     read: true,
     write: true,
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ export function createSync(path: string): File {
   });
 }
 
-export function create(path: string): Promise<File> {
+export function create(path: string | URL): Promise<File> {
   return open(path, {
     read: true,
     write: true,
diff --git a/cli/js/lib.deno.ns.d.ts b/cli/js/lib.deno.ns.d.ts
index 972405680f..c50c71d461 100644
--- a/cli/js/lib.deno.ns.d.ts
+++ b/cli/js/lib.deno.ns.d.ts
@@ -419,7 +419,7 @@ declare namespace Deno {
    *
    * Requires `allow-read` and/or `allow-write` permissions depending on options.
    */
-  export function openSync(path: string, options?: OpenOptions): File;
+  export function openSync(path: string | URL, options?: OpenOptions): File;
 
   /** Open a file and resolve to an instance of `Deno.File`.  The
    * file does not need to previously exist if using the `create` or `createNew`
@@ -434,7 +434,10 @@ declare namespace Deno {
    *
    * Requires `allow-read` and/or `allow-write` permissions depending on options.
    */
-  export function open(path: string, options?: OpenOptions): Promise<File>;
+  export function open(
+    path: string | URL,
+    options?: OpenOptions
+  ): Promise<File>;
 
   /** Creates a file if none exists or truncates an existing file and returns
    *  an instance of `Deno.File`.
@@ -445,7 +448,7 @@ declare namespace Deno {
    *
    * Requires `allow-read` and `allow-write` permissions.
    */
-  export function createSync(path: string): File;
+  export function createSync(path: string | URL): File;
 
   /** Creates a file if none exists or truncates an existing file and resolves to
    *  an instance of `Deno.File`.
@@ -456,7 +459,7 @@ declare namespace Deno {
    *
    * Requires `allow-read` and `allow-write` permissions.
    */
-  export function create(path: string): Promise<File>;
+  export function create(path: string | URL): Promise<File>;
 
   /** Synchronously read from a resource ID (`rid`) into an array buffer (`buffer`).
    *
@@ -890,7 +893,7 @@ declare namespace Deno {
    * Defaults to throwing error if the directory already exists.
    *
    * Requires `allow-write` permission. */
-  export function mkdirSync(path: string, options?: MkdirOptions): void;
+  export function mkdirSync(path: string | URL, options?: MkdirOptions): void;
 
   /** Creates a new directory with the specified path.
    *
@@ -903,7 +906,10 @@ declare namespace Deno {
    * Defaults to throwing error if the directory already exists.
    *
    * Requires `allow-write` permission. */
-  export function mkdir(path: string, options?: MkdirOptions): Promise<void>;
+  export function mkdir(
+    path: string | URL,
+    options?: MkdirOptions
+  ): Promise<void>;
 
   export interface MakeTempOptions {
     /** Directory where the temporary directory should be created (defaults to
@@ -1011,7 +1017,7 @@ declare namespace Deno {
    * NOTE: This API currently throws on Windows
    *
    * Requires `allow-write` permission. */
-  export function chmodSync(path: string, mode: number): void;
+  export function chmodSync(path: string | URL, mode: number): void;
 
   /** Changes the permission of a specific file/directory of specified path.
    * Ignores the process's umask.
@@ -1041,7 +1047,7 @@ declare namespace Deno {
    * NOTE: This API currently throws on Windows
    *
    * Requires `allow-write` permission. */
-  export function chmod(path: string, mode: number): Promise<void>;
+  export function chmod(path: string | URL, mode: number): Promise<void>;
 
   /** Synchronously change owner of a regular file or directory. This functionality
    * is not available on Windows.
@@ -1058,7 +1064,7 @@ declare namespace Deno {
    * @param uid user id (UID) of the new owner
    * @param gid group id (GID) of the new owner
    */
-  export function chownSync(path: string, uid: number, gid: number): void;
+  export function chownSync(path: string | URL, uid: number, gid: number): void;
 
   /** Change owner of a regular file or directory. This functionality
    * is not available on Windows.
@@ -1075,7 +1081,11 @@ declare namespace Deno {
    * @param uid user id (UID) of the new owner
    * @param gid group id (GID) of the new owner
    */
-  export function chown(path: string, uid: number, gid: number): Promise<void>;
+  export function chown(
+    path: string | URL,
+    uid: number,
+    gid: number
+  ): Promise<void>;
 
   export interface RemoveOptions {
     /** Defaults to `false`. If set to `true`, path will be removed even if
@@ -1094,7 +1104,7 @@ declare namespace Deno {
    * directory and the `recursive` option isn't set to `true`.
    *
    * Requires `allow-write` permission. */
-  export function removeSync(path: string, options?: RemoveOptions): void;
+  export function removeSync(path: string | URL, options?: RemoveOptions): void;
 
   /** Removes the named file or directory.
    *
@@ -1107,7 +1117,10 @@ declare namespace Deno {
    * directory and the `recursive` option isn't set to `true`.
    *
    * Requires `allow-write` permission. */
-  export function remove(path: string, options?: RemoveOptions): Promise<void>;
+  export function remove(
+    path: string | URL,
+    options?: RemoveOptions
+  ): Promise<void>;
 
   /** Synchronously renames (moves) `oldpath` to `newpath`. Paths may be files or
    * directories.  If `newpath` already exists and is not a directory,
@@ -1152,7 +1165,7 @@ declare namespace Deno {
    * ```
    *
    * Requires `allow-read` permission. */
-  export function readTextFileSync(path: string): string;
+  export function readTextFileSync(path: string | URL): string;
 
   /** Asynchronously reads and returns the entire contents of a file as a utf8
    *  encoded string. Reading a directory returns an empty data array.
@@ -1163,7 +1176,7 @@ declare namespace Deno {
    * ```
    *
    * Requires `allow-read` permission. */
-  export function readTextFile(path: string): Promise<string>;
+  export function readTextFile(path: string | URL): Promise<string>;
 
   /** Synchronously reads and returns the entire contents of a file as an array
    * of bytes. `TextDecoder` can be used to transform the bytes to string if
@@ -1176,7 +1189,7 @@ declare namespace Deno {
    * ```
    *
    * Requires `allow-read` permission. */
-  export function readFileSync(path: string): Uint8Array;
+  export function readFileSync(path: string | URL): Uint8Array;
 
   /** Reads and resolves to the entire contents of a file as an array of bytes.
    * `TextDecoder` can be used to transform the bytes to string if required.
@@ -1189,7 +1202,7 @@ declare namespace Deno {
    * ```
    *
    * Requires `allow-read` permission. */
-  export function readFile(path: string): Promise<Uint8Array>;
+  export function readFile(path: string | URL): Promise<Uint8Array>;
 
   /** A FileInfo describes a file and is returned by `stat`, `lstat`,
    * `statSync`, `lstatSync`. */
@@ -1307,7 +1320,7 @@ declare namespace Deno {
    * Throws error if `path` is not a directory.
    *
    * Requires `allow-read` permission. */
-  export function readDirSync(path: string): Iterable<DirEntry>;
+  export function readDirSync(path: string | URL): Iterable<DirEntry>;
 
   /** Reads the directory given by `path` and returns an async iterable of
    * `Deno.DirEntry`.
@@ -1321,7 +1334,7 @@ declare namespace Deno {
    * Throws error if `path` is not a directory.
    *
    * Requires `allow-read` permission. */
-  export function readDir(path: string): AsyncIterable<DirEntry>;
+  export function readDir(path: string | URL): AsyncIterable<DirEntry>;
 
   /** Synchronously copies the contents and permissions of one file to another
    * specified path, by default creating a new file if needed, else overwriting.
@@ -1333,7 +1346,10 @@ declare namespace Deno {
    *
    * Requires `allow-read` permission on fromPath.
    * Requires `allow-write` permission on toPath. */
-  export function copyFileSync(fromPath: string, toPath: string): void;
+  export function copyFileSync(
+    fromPath: string | URL,
+    toPath: string | URL
+  ): void;
 
   /** Copies the contents and permissions of one file to another specified path,
    * by default creating a new file if needed, else overwriting. Fails if target
@@ -1345,7 +1361,10 @@ declare namespace Deno {
    *
    * Requires `allow-read` permission on fromPath.
    * Requires `allow-write` permission on toPath. */
-  export function copyFile(fromPath: string, toPath: string): Promise<void>;
+  export function copyFile(
+    fromPath: string | URL,
+    toPath: string | URL
+  ): Promise<void>;
 
   /** Returns the full path destination of the named symbolic link.
    *
@@ -1382,7 +1401,7 @@ declare namespace Deno {
    * ```
    *
    * Requires `allow-read` permission. */
-  export function lstat(path: string): Promise<FileInfo>;
+  export function lstat(path: string | URL): Promise<FileInfo>;
 
   /** Synchronously returns a `Deno.FileInfo` for the specified `path`. If
    * `path` is a symlink, information for the symlink will be returned instead of
@@ -1394,7 +1413,7 @@ declare namespace Deno {
    * ```
    *
    * Requires `allow-read` permission. */
-  export function lstatSync(path: string): FileInfo;
+  export function lstatSync(path: string | URL): FileInfo;
 
   /** Resolves to a `Deno.FileInfo` for the specified `path`. Will always
    * follow symlinks.
@@ -1406,7 +1425,7 @@ declare namespace Deno {
    * ```
    *
    * Requires `allow-read` permission. */
-  export function stat(path: string): Promise<FileInfo>;
+  export function stat(path: string | URL): Promise<FileInfo>;
 
   /** Synchronously returns a `Deno.FileInfo` for the specified `path`. Will
    * always follow symlinks.
@@ -1418,7 +1437,7 @@ declare namespace Deno {
    * ```
    *
    * Requires `allow-read` permission. */
-  export function statSync(path: string): FileInfo;
+  export function statSync(path: string | URL): FileInfo;
 
   /** Options for writing to a file. */
   export interface WriteFileOptions {
@@ -1448,7 +1467,7 @@ declare namespace Deno {
    * `false`.
    */
   export function writeFileSync(
-    path: string,
+    path: string | URL,
     data: Uint8Array,
     options?: WriteFileOptions
   ): void;
@@ -1468,7 +1487,7 @@ declare namespace Deno {
    * Requires `allow-write` permission, and `allow-read` if `options.create` is `false`.
    */
   export function writeFile(
-    path: string,
+    path: string | URL,
     data: Uint8Array,
     options?: WriteFileOptions
   ): Promise<void>;
@@ -1482,7 +1501,7 @@ declare namespace Deno {
    *
    * Requires `allow-write` permission, and `allow-read` if `options.create` is `false`.
    */
-  export function writeTextFileSync(path: string, data: string): void;
+  export function writeTextFileSync(path: string | URL, data: string): void;
 
   /** Asynchronously write string `data` to the given `path`, by default creating a new file if needed,
    * else overwriting.
@@ -1493,7 +1512,10 @@ declare namespace Deno {
    *
    * Requires `allow-write` permission, and `allow-read` if `options.create` is `false`.
    */
-  export function writeTextFile(path: string, data: string): Promise<void>;
+  export function writeTextFile(
+    path: string | URL,
+    data: string
+  ): Promise<void>;
 
   /** Synchronously truncates or extends the specified file, to reach the
    * specified `len`.  If `len` is not specified then the entire file contents
diff --git a/cli/js/ops/fs/chmod.ts b/cli/js/ops/fs/chmod.ts
index 91e898360c..76a3c8f49d 100644
--- a/cli/js/ops/fs/chmod.ts
+++ b/cli/js/ops/fs/chmod.ts
@@ -1,10 +1,13 @@
 // Copyright 2018-2020 the Deno authors. All rights reserved. MIT license.
 import { sendSync, sendAsync } from "../dispatch_json.ts";
+import { pathFromURL } from "../../util.ts";
 
-export function chmodSync(path: string, mode: number): void {
+export function chmodSync(path: string | URL, mode: number): void {
+  path = pathFromURL(path);
   sendSync("op_chmod", { path, mode });
 }
 
-export async function chmod(path: string, mode: number): Promise<void> {
+export async function chmod(path: string | URL, mode: number): Promise<void> {
+  path = pathFromURL(path);
   await sendAsync("op_chmod", { path, mode });
 }
diff --git a/cli/js/ops/fs/chown.ts b/cli/js/ops/fs/chown.ts
index d6e3702c6f..f24ab5e55b 100644
--- a/cli/js/ops/fs/chown.ts
+++ b/cli/js/ops/fs/chown.ts
@@ -1,14 +1,17 @@
 // Copyright 2018-2020 the Deno authors. All rights reserved. MIT license.
 import { sendSync, sendAsync } from "../dispatch_json.ts";
+import { pathFromURL } from "../../util.ts";
 
-export function chownSync(path: string, uid: number, gid: number): void {
+export function chownSync(path: string | URL, uid: number, gid: number): void {
+  path = pathFromURL(path);
   sendSync("op_chown", { path, uid, gid });
 }
 
 export async function chown(
-  path: string,
+  path: string | URL,
   uid: number,
   gid: number
 ): Promise<void> {
+  path = pathFromURL(path);
   await sendAsync("op_chown", { path, uid, gid });
 }
diff --git a/cli/js/ops/fs/copy_file.ts b/cli/js/ops/fs/copy_file.ts
index 4c8c746678..6bbb3f5994 100644
--- a/cli/js/ops/fs/copy_file.ts
+++ b/cli/js/ops/fs/copy_file.ts
@@ -1,13 +1,23 @@
 // Copyright 2018-2020 the Deno authors. All rights reserved. MIT license.
 import { sendSync, sendAsync } from "../dispatch_json.ts";
+import { pathFromURL } from "../../util.ts";
+
+export function copyFileSync(
+  fromPath: string | URL,
+  toPath: string | URL
+): void {
+  fromPath = pathFromURL(fromPath);
+  toPath = pathFromURL(toPath);
 
-export function copyFileSync(fromPath: string, toPath: string): void {
   sendSync("op_copy_file", { from: fromPath, to: toPath });
 }
 
 export async function copyFile(
-  fromPath: string,
-  toPath: string
+  fromPath: string | URL,
+  toPath: string | URL
 ): Promise<void> {
+  fromPath = pathFromURL(fromPath);
+  toPath = pathFromURL(toPath);
+
   await sendAsync("op_copy_file", { from: fromPath, to: toPath });
 }
diff --git a/cli/js/ops/fs/open.ts b/cli/js/ops/fs/open.ts
index afe713db82..3742d0b52a 100644
--- a/cli/js/ops/fs/open.ts
+++ b/cli/js/ops/fs/open.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 // Copyright 2018-2020 the Deno authors. All rights reserved. MIT license.
 import { sendSync, sendAsync } from "../dispatch_json.ts";
+import { pathFromURL } from "../../util.ts";
 
 export interface OpenOptions {
   read?: boolean;
@@ -15,13 +16,18 @@ export interface OpenOptions {
   mode?: number;
 }
 
-export function openSync(path: string, options: OpenOptions): number {
+export function openSync(path: string | URL, options: OpenOptions): number {
   const mode: number | undefined = options?.mode;
+  path = pathFromURL(path);
   return sendSync("op_open", { path, options, mode });
 }
 
-export function open(path: string, options: OpenOptions): Promise<number> {
+export function open(
+  path: string | URL,
+  options: OpenOptions
+): Promise<number> {
   const mode: number | undefined = options?.mode;
+  path = pathFromURL(path);
   return sendAsync("op_open", {
     path,
     options,
diff --git a/cli/js/ops/fs/read_dir.ts b/cli/js/ops/fs/read_dir.ts
index 1e8d79edc7..09c5d1c12e 100644
--- a/cli/js/ops/fs/read_dir.ts
+++ b/cli/js/ops/fs/read_dir.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 // Copyright 2018-2020 the Deno authors. All rights reserved. MIT license.
 import { sendSync, sendAsync } from "../dispatch_json.ts";
+import { pathFromURL } from "../../util.ts";
 
 export interface DirEntry {
   name: string;
@@ -16,11 +17,13 @@ function res(response: ReadDirResponse): DirEntry[] {
   return response.entries;
 }
 
-export function readDirSync(path: string): Iterable<DirEntry> {
+export function readDirSync(path: string | URL): Iterable<DirEntry> {
+  path = pathFromURL(path);
   return res(sendSync("op_read_dir", { path }))[Symbol.iterator]();
 }
 
-export function readDir(path: string): AsyncIterable<DirEntry> {
+export function readDir(path: string | URL): AsyncIterable<DirEntry> {
+  path = pathFromURL(path);
   const array = sendAsync("op_read_dir", { path }).then(res);
   return {
     async *[Symbol.asyncIterator](): AsyncIterableIterator<DirEntry> {
diff --git a/cli/js/ops/fs/remove.ts b/cli/js/ops/fs/remove.ts
index d5af82f9b9..d1a8702f1c 100644
--- a/cli/js/ops/fs/remove.ts
+++ b/cli/js/ops/fs/remove.ts
@@ -1,17 +1,23 @@
 // Copyright 2018-2020 the Deno authors. All rights reserved. MIT license.
 import { sendSync, sendAsync } from "../dispatch_json.ts";
+import { pathFromURL } from "../../util.ts";
 
 export interface RemoveOptions {
   recursive?: boolean;
 }
 
-export function removeSync(path: string, options: RemoveOptions = {}): void {
+export function removeSync(
+  path: string | URL,
+  options: RemoveOptions = {}
+): void {
+  path = pathFromURL(path);
   sendSync("op_remove", { path, recursive: !!options.recursive });
 }
 
 export async function remove(
-  path: string,
+  path: string | URL,
   options: RemoveOptions = {}
 ): Promise<void> {
+  path = pathFromURL(path);
   await sendAsync("op_remove", { path, recursive: !!options.recursive });
 }
diff --git a/cli/js/ops/fs/stat.ts b/cli/js/ops/fs/stat.ts
index e8fd28218a..93d31fc3f8 100644
--- a/cli/js/ops/fs/stat.ts
+++ b/cli/js/ops/fs/stat.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 // Copyright 2018-2020 the Deno authors. All rights reserved. MIT license.
 import { sendSync, sendAsync } from "../dispatch_json.ts";
 import { build } from "../../build.ts";
+import { pathFromURL } from "../../util.ts";
 
 export interface FileInfo {
   size: number;
@@ -65,7 +66,8 @@ export function parseFileInfo(response: StatResponse): FileInfo {
   };
 }
 
-export async function lstat(path: string): Promise<FileInfo> {
+export async function lstat(path: string | URL): Promise<FileInfo> {
+  path = pathFromURL(path);
   const res = (await sendAsync("op_stat", {
     path,
     lstat: true,
@@ -73,7 +75,8 @@ export async function lstat(path: string): Promise<FileInfo> {
   return parseFileInfo(res);
 }
 
-export function lstatSync(path: string): FileInfo {
+export function lstatSync(path: string | URL): FileInfo {
+  path = pathFromURL(path);
   const res = sendSync("op_stat", {
     path,
     lstat: true,
@@ -81,7 +84,8 @@ export function lstatSync(path: string): FileInfo {
   return parseFileInfo(res);
 }
 
-export async function stat(path: string): Promise<FileInfo> {
+export async function stat(path: string | URL): Promise<FileInfo> {
+  path = pathFromURL(path);
   const res = (await sendAsync("op_stat", {
     path,
     lstat: false,
@@ -89,7 +93,8 @@ export async function stat(path: string): Promise<FileInfo> {
   return parseFileInfo(res);
 }
 
-export function statSync(path: string): FileInfo {
+export function statSync(path: string | URL): FileInfo {
+  path = pathFromURL(path);
   const res = sendSync("op_stat", {
     path,
     lstat: false,
diff --git a/cli/js/read_file.ts b/cli/js/read_file.ts
index 317401af5c..b8d428b8c9 100644
--- a/cli/js/read_file.ts
+++ b/cli/js/read_file.ts
@@ -2,14 +2,14 @@
 import { open, openSync } from "./files.ts";
 import { readAll, readAllSync } from "./buffer.ts";
 
-export function readFileSync(path: string): Uint8Array {
+export function readFileSync(path: string | URL): Uint8Array {
   const file = openSync(path);
   const contents = readAllSync(file);
   file.close();
   return contents;
 }
 
-export async function readFile(path: string): Promise<Uint8Array> {
+export async function readFile(path: string | URL): Promise<Uint8Array> {
   const file = await open(path);
   const contents = await readAll(file);
   file.close();
diff --git a/cli/js/read_text_file.ts b/cli/js/read_text_file.ts
index 3423b26b88..154b01b0ee 100644
--- a/cli/js/read_text_file.ts
+++ b/cli/js/read_text_file.ts
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 import { open, openSync } from "./files.ts";
 import { readAll, readAllSync } from "./buffer.ts";
 
-export function readTextFileSync(path: string): string {
+export function readTextFileSync(path: string | URL): string {
   const decoder = new TextDecoder();
   const file = openSync(path);
   const content = readAllSync(file);
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ export function readTextFileSync(path: string): string {
   return decoder.decode(content);
 }
 
-export async function readTextFile(path: string): Promise<string> {
+export async function readTextFile(path: string | URL): Promise<string> {
   const decoder = new TextDecoder();
   const file = await open(path);
   const content = await readAll(file);
diff --git a/cli/js/util.ts b/cli/js/util.ts
index 309bfcd0c2..c50a4cdcb5 100644
--- a/cli/js/util.ts
+++ b/cli/js/util.ts
@@ -1,4 +1,6 @@
 // Copyright 2018-2020 the Deno authors. All rights reserved. MIT license.
+import { build } from "./build.ts";
+import { exposeForTest } from "./internals.ts";
 
 let logDebug = false;
 let logSource = "JS";
@@ -78,3 +80,49 @@ export function immutableDefine(
     writable: false,
   });
 }
+
+function pathFromURLWin32(url: URL): string {
+  if (url.hostname !== "") {
+    //TODO(actual-size) Node adds a punycode decoding step, we should consider adding this
+    return `\\\\${url.hostname}${url.pathname}`;
+  }
+
+  const validPath = /^\/(?<driveLetter>[A-Za-z]):\//;
+  const matches = validPath.exec(url.pathname);
+
+  if (!matches?.groups?.driveLetter) {
+    throw new TypeError("A URL with the file schema must be absolute.");
+  }
+
+  const pathname = url.pathname.replace(/\//g, "\\");
+  // we don't want a leading slash on an absolute path in Windows
+  return pathname.slice(1);
+}
+
+function pathFromURLPosix(url: URL): string {
+  if (url.hostname !== "") {
+    throw new TypeError(`Host must be empty.`);
+  }
+
+  return decodeURIComponent(url.pathname);
+}
+
+export function pathFromURL(pathOrUrl: string | URL): string {
+  if (typeof pathOrUrl == "string") {
+    try {
+      pathOrUrl = new URL(pathOrUrl);
+    } catch {}
+  }
+  if (pathOrUrl instanceof URL) {
+    if (pathOrUrl.protocol != "file:") {
+      throw new TypeError("Must be a path string or file URL.");
+    }
+
+    return build.os == "windows"
+      ? pathFromURLWin32(pathOrUrl)
+      : pathFromURLPosix(pathOrUrl);
+  }
+  return pathOrUrl;
+}
+
+exposeForTest("pathFromURL", pathFromURL);
diff --git a/cli/js/write_file.ts b/cli/js/write_file.ts
index 6961b78eae..3106c48ef9 100644
--- a/cli/js/write_file.ts
+++ b/cli/js/write_file.ts
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ export interface WriteFileOptions {
 }
 
 export function writeFileSync(
-  path: string,
+  path: string | URL,
   data: Uint8Array,
   options: WriteFileOptions = {}
 ): void {
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ export function writeFileSync(
 }
 
 export async function writeFile(
-  path: string,
+  path: string | URL,
   data: Uint8Array,
   options: WriteFileOptions = {}
 ): Promise<void> {
diff --git a/cli/js/write_text_file.ts b/cli/js/write_text_file.ts
index d2a6575d7f..4f111edb4b 100644
--- a/cli/js/write_text_file.ts
+++ b/cli/js/write_text_file.ts
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 import { open, openSync } from "./files.ts";
 import { writeAll, writeAllSync } from "./buffer.ts";
 
-export function writeTextFileSync(path: string, data: string): void {
+export function writeTextFileSync(path: string | URL, data: string): void {
   const file = openSync(path, { write: true, create: true, truncate: true });
   const enc = new TextEncoder();
   const contents = enc.encode(data);
@@ -9,7 +9,10 @@ export function writeTextFileSync(path: string, data: string): void {
   file.close();
 }
 
-export async function writeTextFile(path: string, data: string): Promise<void> {
+export async function writeTextFile(
+  path: string | URL,
+  data: string
+): Promise<void> {
   const file = await open(path, { write: true, create: true, truncate: true });
   const enc = new TextEncoder();
   const contents = enc.encode(data);
diff --git a/cli/tests/unit/chmod_test.ts b/cli/tests/unit/chmod_test.ts
index d0d17629d0..02a5fb22e0 100644
--- a/cli/tests/unit/chmod_test.ts
+++ b/cli/tests/unit/chmod_test.ts
@@ -18,6 +18,25 @@ unitTest(
   }
 );
 
+unitTest(
+  { ignore: Deno.build.os === "windows", perms: { read: true, write: true } },
+  function chmodSyncUrl(): void {
+    const enc = new TextEncoder();
+    const data = enc.encode("Hello");
+    const tempDir = Deno.makeTempDirSync();
+    const fileUrl = new URL(`file://${tempDir}/test.txt`);
+    Deno.writeFileSync(fileUrl, data, { mode: 0o666 });
+
+    Deno.chmodSync(fileUrl, 0o777);
+
+    const fileInfo = Deno.statSync(fileUrl);
+    assert(fileInfo.mode);
+    assertEquals(fileInfo.mode & 0o777, 0o777);
+
+    Deno.removeSync(tempDir, { recursive: true });
+  }
+);
+
 // Check symlink when not on windows
 unitTest(
   {
@@ -89,6 +108,25 @@ unitTest(
   }
 );
 
+unitTest(
+  { ignore: Deno.build.os === "windows", perms: { read: true, write: true } },
+  async function chmodUrl(): Promise<void> {
+    const enc = new TextEncoder();
+    const data = enc.encode("Hello");
+    const tempDir = Deno.makeTempDirSync();
+    const fileUrl = new URL(`file://${tempDir}/test.txt`);
+    Deno.writeFileSync(fileUrl, data, { mode: 0o666 });
+
+    await Deno.chmod(fileUrl, 0o777);
+
+    const fileInfo = Deno.statSync(fileUrl);
+    assert(fileInfo.mode);
+    assertEquals(fileInfo.mode & 0o777, 0o777);
+
+    Deno.removeSync(tempDir, { recursive: true });
+  }
+);
+
 // Check symlink when not on windows
 
 unitTest(
diff --git a/cli/tests/unit/chown_test.ts b/cli/tests/unit/chown_test.ts
index 724ea5a211..bcd5ab9fe8 100644
--- a/cli/tests/unit/chown_test.ts
+++ b/cli/tests/unit/chown_test.ts
@@ -125,6 +125,26 @@ if (Deno.build.os !== "windows") {
     }
   );
 
+  unitTest(
+    { perms: { run: true, write: true } },
+    async function chownSyncWithUrl(): Promise<void> {
+      // TODO: same as chownSyncSucceed
+      const { uid, gid } = await getUidAndGid();
+
+      const enc = new TextEncoder();
+      const dirPath = Deno.makeTempDirSync();
+      const fileUrl = new URL(`file://${dirPath}/chown_test_file.txt`);
+      const fileData = enc.encode("Hello");
+      Deno.writeFileSync(fileUrl, fileData);
+
+      // the test script creates this file with the same uid and gid,
+      // here chown is a noop so it succeeds under non-priviledged user
+      Deno.chownSync(fileUrl, uid, gid);
+
+      Deno.removeSync(dirPath, { recursive: true });
+    }
+  );
+
   unitTest(
     { perms: { run: true, write: true } },
     async function chownSucceed(): Promise<void> {
@@ -144,4 +164,24 @@ if (Deno.build.os !== "windows") {
       Deno.removeSync(dirPath, { recursive: true });
     }
   );
+
+  unitTest(
+    { perms: { run: true, write: true } },
+    async function chownWithUrl(): Promise<void> {
+      // TODO: same as chownSyncSucceed
+      const { uid, gid } = await getUidAndGid();
+
+      const enc = new TextEncoder();
+      const dirPath = await Deno.makeTempDir();
+      const fileUrl = new URL(`file://${dirPath}/chown_test_file.txt`);
+      const fileData = enc.encode("Hello");
+      await Deno.writeFile(fileUrl, fileData);
+
+      // the test script creates this file with the same uid and gid,
+      // here chown is a noop so it succeeds under non-priviledged user
+      await Deno.chown(fileUrl, uid, gid);
+
+      Deno.removeSync(dirPath, { recursive: true });
+    }
+  );
 }
diff --git a/cli/tests/unit/copy_file_test.ts b/cli/tests/unit/copy_file_test.ts
index 986bab53bd..5a1492e50d 100644
--- a/cli/tests/unit/copy_file_test.ts
+++ b/cli/tests/unit/copy_file_test.ts
@@ -1,19 +1,22 @@
 // Copyright 2018-2020 the Deno authors. All rights reserved. MIT license.
 import { unitTest, assert, assertEquals } from "./test_util.ts";
 
-function readFileString(filename: string): string {
+function readFileString(filename: string | URL): string {
   const dataRead = Deno.readFileSync(filename);
   const dec = new TextDecoder("utf-8");
   return dec.decode(dataRead);
 }
 
-function writeFileString(filename: string, s: string): void {
+function writeFileString(filename: string | URL, s: string): void {
   const enc = new TextEncoder();
   const data = enc.encode(s);
   Deno.writeFileSync(filename, data, { mode: 0o666 });
 }
 
-function assertSameContent(filename1: string, filename2: string): void {
+function assertSameContent(
+  filename1: string | URL,
+  filename2: string | URL
+): void {
   const data1 = Deno.readFileSync(filename1);
   const data2 = Deno.readFileSync(filename2);
   assertEquals(data1, data2);
@@ -31,6 +34,29 @@ unitTest(
     assertEquals(readFileString(fromFilename), "Hello world!");
     // Original == Dest
     assertSameContent(fromFilename, toFilename);
+
+    Deno.removeSync(tempDir, { recursive: true });
+  }
+);
+
+unitTest(
+  { perms: { read: true, write: true } },
+  function copyFileSyncByUrl(): void {
+    const tempDir = Deno.makeTempDirSync();
+    const fromUrl = new URL(
+      `file://${Deno.build.os === "windows" ? "/" : ""}${tempDir}/from.txt`
+    );
+    const toUrl = new URL(
+      `file://${Deno.build.os === "windows" ? "/" : ""}${tempDir}/to.txt`
+    );
+    writeFileString(fromUrl, "Hello world!");
+    Deno.copyFileSync(fromUrl, toUrl);
+    // No change to original file
+    assertEquals(readFileString(fromUrl), "Hello world!");
+    // Original == Dest
+    assertSameContent(fromUrl, toUrl);
+
+    Deno.removeSync(tempDir, { recursive: true });
   }
 );
 
@@ -49,6 +75,8 @@ unitTest(
     }
     assert(!!err);
     assert(err instanceof Deno.errors.NotFound);
+
+    Deno.removeSync(tempDir, { recursive: true });
   }
 );
 
@@ -94,6 +122,8 @@ unitTest(
     assertEquals(readFileString(fromFilename), "Hello world!");
     // Original == Dest
     assertSameContent(fromFilename, toFilename);
+
+    Deno.removeSync(tempDir, { recursive: true });
   }
 );
 
@@ -109,6 +139,29 @@ unitTest(
     assertEquals(readFileString(fromFilename), "Hello world!");
     // Original == Dest
     assertSameContent(fromFilename, toFilename);
+
+    Deno.removeSync(tempDir, { recursive: true });
+  }
+);
+
+unitTest(
+  { perms: { read: true, write: true } },
+  async function copyFileByUrl(): Promise<void> {
+    const tempDir = Deno.makeTempDirSync();
+    const fromUrl = new URL(
+      `file://${Deno.build.os === "windows" ? "/" : ""}${tempDir}/from.txt`
+    );
+    const toUrl = new URL(
+      `file://${Deno.build.os === "windows" ? "/" : ""}${tempDir}/to.txt`
+    );
+    writeFileString(fromUrl, "Hello world!");
+    await Deno.copyFile(fromUrl, toUrl);
+    // No change to original file
+    assertEquals(readFileString(fromUrl), "Hello world!");
+    // Original == Dest
+    assertSameContent(fromUrl, toUrl);
+
+    Deno.removeSync(tempDir, { recursive: true });
   }
 );
 
@@ -127,6 +180,8 @@ unitTest(
     }
     assert(!!err);
     assert(err instanceof Deno.errors.NotFound);
+
+    Deno.removeSync(tempDir, { recursive: true });
   }
 );
 
@@ -144,6 +199,8 @@ unitTest(
     assertEquals(readFileString(fromFilename), "Hello world!");
     // Original == Dest
     assertSameContent(fromFilename, toFilename);
+
+    Deno.removeSync(tempDir, { recursive: true });
   }
 );
 
diff --git a/cli/tests/unit/files_test.ts b/cli/tests/unit/files_test.ts
index 46bcb2173b..e5db0c613d 100644
--- a/cli/tests/unit/files_test.ts
+++ b/cli/tests/unit/files_test.ts
@@ -197,6 +197,54 @@ unitTest(
   }
 );
 
+unitTest(
+  {
+    perms: { read: true, write: true },
+  },
+  function openSyncUrl(): void {
+    const tempDir = Deno.makeTempDirSync();
+    const fileUrl = new URL(
+      `file://${Deno.build.os === "windows" ? "/" : ""}${tempDir}/test_open.txt`
+    );
+    const file = Deno.openSync(fileUrl, {
+      write: true,
+      createNew: true,
+      mode: 0o626,
+    });
+    file.close();
+    const pathInfo = Deno.statSync(fileUrl);
+    if (Deno.build.os !== "windows") {
+      assertEquals(pathInfo.mode! & 0o777, 0o626 & ~Deno.umask());
+    }
+
+    Deno.removeSync(tempDir, { recursive: true });
+  }
+);
+
+unitTest(
+  {
+    perms: { read: true, write: true },
+  },
+  async function openUrl(): Promise<void> {
+    const tempDir = await Deno.makeTempDir();
+    const fileUrl = new URL(
+      `file://${Deno.build.os === "windows" ? "/" : ""}${tempDir}/test_open.txt`
+    );
+    const file = await Deno.open(fileUrl, {
+      write: true,
+      createNew: true,
+      mode: 0o626,
+    });
+    file.close();
+    const pathInfo = Deno.statSync(fileUrl);
+    if (Deno.build.os !== "windows") {
+      assertEquals(pathInfo.mode! & 0o777, 0o626 & ~Deno.umask());
+    }
+
+    Deno.removeSync(tempDir, { recursive: true });
+  }
+);
+
 unitTest(
   { perms: { write: false } },
   async function writePermFailure(): Promise<void> {
@@ -375,6 +423,71 @@ unitTest(
   }
 );
 
+unitTest(
+  { perms: { read: true, write: true } },
+  async function createFileWithUrl(): Promise<void> {
+    const tempDir = await Deno.makeTempDir();
+    const fileUrl = new URL(
+      `file://${Deno.build.os === "windows" ? "/" : ""}${tempDir}/test.txt`
+    );
+    const f = await Deno.create(fileUrl);
+    let fileInfo = Deno.statSync(fileUrl);
+    assert(fileInfo.isFile);
+    assert(fileInfo.size === 0);
+    const enc = new TextEncoder();
+    const data = enc.encode("Hello");
+    await f.write(data);
+    fileInfo = Deno.statSync(fileUrl);
+    assert(fileInfo.size === 5);
+    f.close();
+
+    await Deno.remove(tempDir, { recursive: true });
+  }
+);
+
+unitTest(
+  { perms: { read: true, write: true } },
+  async function createSyncFile(): Promise<void> {
+    const tempDir = await Deno.makeTempDir();
+    const filename = tempDir + "/test.txt";
+    const f = Deno.createSync(filename);
+    let fileInfo = Deno.statSync(filename);
+    assert(fileInfo.isFile);
+    assert(fileInfo.size === 0);
+    const enc = new TextEncoder();
+    const data = enc.encode("Hello");
+    await f.write(data);
+    fileInfo = Deno.statSync(filename);
+    assert(fileInfo.size === 5);
+    f.close();
+
+    // TODO: test different modes
+    await Deno.remove(tempDir, { recursive: true });
+  }
+);
+
+unitTest(
+  { perms: { read: true, write: true } },
+  async function createSyncFileWithUrl(): Promise<void> {
+    const tempDir = await Deno.makeTempDir();
+    const fileUrl = new URL(
+      `file://${Deno.build.os === "windows" ? "/" : ""}${tempDir}/test.txt`
+    );
+    const f = Deno.createSync(fileUrl);
+    let fileInfo = Deno.statSync(fileUrl);
+    assert(fileInfo.isFile);
+    assert(fileInfo.size === 0);
+    const enc = new TextEncoder();
+    const data = enc.encode("Hello");
+    await f.write(data);
+    fileInfo = Deno.statSync(fileUrl);
+    assert(fileInfo.size === 5);
+    f.close();
+
+    await Deno.remove(tempDir, { recursive: true });
+  }
+);
+
 unitTest(
   { perms: { read: true, write: true } },
   async function openModeWrite(): Promise<void> {
diff --git a/cli/tests/unit/path_from_url_test.ts b/cli/tests/unit/path_from_url_test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..5e7203a582
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cli/tests/unit/path_from_url_test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,31 @@
+import { assertThrows, assertEquals, unitTest } from "./test_util.ts";
+
+// @ts-expect-error TypeScript (as of 3.7) does not support indexing namespaces by symbol
+const { pathFromURL } = Deno[Deno.internal];
+
+unitTest(
+  { ignore: Deno.build.os === "windows" },
+  function pathFromURLPosix(): void {
+    assertEquals(pathFromURL("file:///test/directory"), "/test/directory");
+    assertThrows(() => pathFromURL("file://host/test/directory"));
+    assertThrows(() => pathFromURL("https://deno.land/welcome.ts"));
+  }
+);
+
+unitTest(
+  { ignore: Deno.build.os !== "windows" },
+  function pathFromURLWin32(): void {
+    assertEquals(pathFromURL("file:///c:/windows/test"), "c:\\windows\\test");
+    assertThrows(() => pathFromURL("file:///thing/test"));
+    assertThrows(() => pathFromURL("https://deno.land/welcome.ts"));
+    /* TODO(ry) Add tests for these situations
+     * ampersand_&.tx                 file:///D:/weird_names/ampersand_&.txt
+     * at_@.txt                       file:///D:/weird_names/at_@.txt
+     * emoji_🙃.txt                   file:///D:/weird_names/emoji_%F0%9F%99%83.txt
+     * percent_%.txt                  file:///D:/weird_names/percent_%25.txt
+     * pound_#.txt                    file:///D:/weird_names/pound_%23.txt
+     * space_ .txt                    file:///D:/weird_names/space_%20.txt
+     * swapped_surrogate_pair_��.txt  file:///D:/weird_names/swapped_surrogate_pair_%EF%BF%BD%EF%BF%BD.txt
+     */
+  }
+);
diff --git a/cli/tests/unit/read_dir_test.ts b/cli/tests/unit/read_dir_test.ts
index 79e2a15072..d9a5244c78 100644
--- a/cli/tests/unit/read_dir_test.ts
+++ b/cli/tests/unit/read_dir_test.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,10 @@
 // Copyright 2018-2020 the Deno authors. All rights reserved. MIT license.
-import { unitTest, assert, assertEquals } from "./test_util.ts";
+import {
+  unitTest,
+  assert,
+  assertEquals,
+  pathToAbsoluteFileUrl,
+} from "./test_util.ts";
 
 function assertSameContent(files: Deno.DirEntry[]): void {
   let counter = 0;
@@ -19,6 +24,11 @@ unitTest({ perms: { read: true } }, function readDirSyncSuccess(): void {
   assertSameContent(files);
 });
 
+unitTest({ perms: { read: true } }, function readDirSyncWithUrl(): void {
+  const files = [...Deno.readDirSync(pathToAbsoluteFileUrl("cli/tests"))];
+  assertSameContent(files);
+});
+
 unitTest({ perms: { read: false } }, function readDirSyncPerm(): void {
   let caughtError = false;
   try {
@@ -68,6 +78,18 @@ unitTest({ perms: { read: true } }, async function readDirSuccess(): Promise<
   assertSameContent(files);
 });
 
+unitTest({ perms: { read: true } }, async function readDirWithUrl(): Promise<
+  void
+> {
+  const files = [];
+  for await (const dirEntry of Deno.readDir(
+    pathToAbsoluteFileUrl("cli/tests")
+  )) {
+    files.push(dirEntry);
+  }
+  assertSameContent(files);
+});
+
 unitTest({ perms: { read: false } }, async function readDirPerm(): Promise<
   void
 > {
diff --git a/cli/tests/unit/read_file_test.ts b/cli/tests/unit/read_file_test.ts
index 0d3cdf4223..cae9037abe 100644
--- a/cli/tests/unit/read_file_test.ts
+++ b/cli/tests/unit/read_file_test.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,10 @@
 // Copyright 2018-2020 the Deno authors. All rights reserved. MIT license.
-import { unitTest, assert, assertEquals } from "./test_util.ts";
+import {
+  unitTest,
+  assert,
+  assertEquals,
+  pathToAbsoluteFileUrl,
+} from "./test_util.ts";
 
 unitTest({ perms: { read: true } }, function readFileSyncSuccess(): void {
   const data = Deno.readFileSync("cli/tests/fixture.json");
@@ -10,6 +15,17 @@ unitTest({ perms: { read: true } }, function readFileSyncSuccess(): void {
   assertEquals(pkg.name, "deno");
 });
 
+unitTest({ perms: { read: true } }, function readFileSyncUrl(): void {
+  const data = Deno.readFileSync(
+    pathToAbsoluteFileUrl("cli/tests/fixture.json")
+  );
+  assert(data.byteLength > 0);
+  const decoder = new TextDecoder("utf-8");
+  const json = decoder.decode(data);
+  const pkg = JSON.parse(json);
+  assertEquals(pkg.name, "deno");
+});
+
 unitTest({ perms: { read: false } }, function readFileSyncPerm(): void {
   let caughtError = false;
   try {
@@ -34,6 +50,19 @@ unitTest({ perms: { read: true } }, function readFileSyncNotFound(): void {
   assert(data === undefined);
 });
 
+unitTest({ perms: { read: true } }, async function readFileUrl(): Promise<
+  void
+> {
+  const data = await Deno.readFile(
+    pathToAbsoluteFileUrl("cli/tests/fixture.json")
+  );
+  assert(data.byteLength > 0);
+  const decoder = new TextDecoder("utf-8");
+  const json = decoder.decode(data);
+  const pkg = JSON.parse(json);
+  assertEquals(pkg.name, "deno");
+});
+
 unitTest({ perms: { read: true } }, async function readFileSuccess(): Promise<
   void
 > {
diff --git a/cli/tests/unit/read_text_file_test.ts b/cli/tests/unit/read_text_file_test.ts
index 3e7493e4a2..0f1759c541 100644
--- a/cli/tests/unit/read_text_file_test.ts
+++ b/cli/tests/unit/read_text_file_test.ts
@@ -1,4 +1,9 @@
-import { unitTest, assert, assertEquals } from "./test_util.ts";
+import {
+  unitTest,
+  assert,
+  assertEquals,
+  pathToAbsoluteFileUrl,
+} from "./test_util.ts";
 
 unitTest({ perms: { read: true } }, function readTextFileSyncSuccess(): void {
   const data = Deno.readTextFileSync("cli/tests/fixture.json");
@@ -7,6 +12,15 @@ unitTest({ perms: { read: true } }, function readTextFileSyncSuccess(): void {
   assertEquals(pkg.name, "deno");
 });
 
+unitTest({ perms: { read: true } }, function readTextFileSyncByUrl(): void {
+  const data = Deno.readTextFileSync(
+    pathToAbsoluteFileUrl("cli/tests/fixture.json")
+  );
+  assert(data.length > 0);
+  const pkg = JSON.parse(data);
+  assertEquals(pkg.name, "deno");
+});
+
 unitTest({ perms: { read: false } }, function readTextFileSyncPerm(): void {
   let caughtError = false;
   try {
@@ -41,6 +55,17 @@ unitTest(
   }
 );
 
+unitTest({ perms: { read: true } }, async function readTextFileByUrl(): Promise<
+  void
+> {
+  const data = await Deno.readTextFile(
+    pathToAbsoluteFileUrl("cli/tests/fixture.json")
+  );
+  assert(data.length > 0);
+  const pkg = JSON.parse(data);
+  assertEquals(pkg.name, "deno");
+});
+
 unitTest({ perms: { read: false } }, async function readTextFilePerm(): Promise<
   void
 > {
diff --git a/cli/tests/unit/remove_test.ts b/cli/tests/unit/remove_test.ts
index f9095c1c1d..94fbba6825 100644
--- a/cli/tests/unit/remove_test.ts
+++ b/cli/tests/unit/remove_test.ts
@@ -51,6 +51,36 @@ unitTest(
   }
 );
 
+unitTest(
+  { perms: { write: true, read: true } },
+  async function removeFileByUrl(): Promise<void> {
+    for (const method of REMOVE_METHODS) {
+      // REMOVE FILE
+      const enc = new TextEncoder();
+      const data = enc.encode("Hello");
+
+      const tempDir = Deno.makeTempDirSync();
+      const fileUrl = new URL(
+        `file://${Deno.build.os === "windows" ? "/" : ""}${tempDir}/test.txt`
+      );
+
+      Deno.writeFileSync(fileUrl, data, { mode: 0o666 });
+      const fileInfo = Deno.statSync(fileUrl);
+      assert(fileInfo.isFile); // check exist first
+      await Deno[method](fileUrl); // remove
+      // We then check again after remove
+      let err;
+      try {
+        Deno.statSync(fileUrl);
+      } catch (e) {
+        err = e;
+      }
+      // File is gone
+      assert(err instanceof Deno.errors.NotFound);
+    }
+  }
+);
+
 unitTest(
   { perms: { write: true, read: true } },
   async function removeFail(): Promise<void> {
diff --git a/cli/tests/unit/stat_test.ts b/cli/tests/unit/stat_test.ts
index 7eaf73d581..67598a2d79 100644
--- a/cli/tests/unit/stat_test.ts
+++ b/cli/tests/unit/stat_test.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,10 @@
 // Copyright 2018-2020 the Deno authors. All rights reserved. MIT license.
-import { unitTest, assert, assertEquals } from "./test_util.ts";
+import {
+  unitTest,
+  assert,
+  assertEquals,
+  pathToAbsoluteFileUrl,
+} from "./test_util.ts";
 
 unitTest(
   { perms: { read: true, write: true } },
@@ -18,12 +23,47 @@ unitTest(
 
     const tempFile = Deno.makeTempFileSync();
     const tempInfo = Deno.statSync(tempFile);
-    const now = Date.now();
+    let now = Date.now();
     assert(tempInfo.atime !== null && now - tempInfo.atime.valueOf() < 1000);
     assert(tempInfo.mtime !== null && now - tempInfo.mtime.valueOf() < 1000);
     assert(
       tempInfo.birthtime === null || now - tempInfo.birthtime.valueOf() < 1000
     );
+
+    const packageInfoByUrl = Deno.statSync(pathToAbsoluteFileUrl("README.md"));
+    assert(packageInfoByUrl.isFile);
+    assert(!packageInfoByUrl.isSymlink);
+
+    const modulesInfoByUrl = Deno.statSync(
+      pathToAbsoluteFileUrl("cli/tests/symlink_to_subdir")
+    );
+    assert(modulesInfoByUrl.isDirectory);
+    assert(!modulesInfoByUrl.isSymlink);
+
+    const testsInfoByUrl = Deno.statSync(pathToAbsoluteFileUrl("cli/tests"));
+    assert(testsInfoByUrl.isDirectory);
+    assert(!testsInfoByUrl.isSymlink);
+
+    const tempFileForUrl = Deno.makeTempFileSync();
+    const tempInfoByUrl = Deno.statSync(
+      new URL(
+        `file://${Deno.build.os === "windows" ? "/" : ""}${tempFileForUrl}`
+      )
+    );
+    now = Date.now();
+    assert(
+      tempInfoByUrl.atime !== null && now - tempInfoByUrl.atime.valueOf() < 1000
+    );
+    assert(
+      tempInfoByUrl.mtime !== null && now - tempInfoByUrl.mtime.valueOf() < 1000
+    );
+    assert(
+      tempInfoByUrl.birthtime === null ||
+        now - tempInfoByUrl.birthtime.valueOf() < 1000
+    );
+
+    Deno.removeSync(tempFile, { recursive: true });
+    Deno.removeSync(tempFileForUrl, { recursive: true });
   }
 );
 
@@ -58,13 +98,27 @@ unitTest({ perms: { read: true } }, function lstatSyncSuccess(): void {
   assert(packageInfo.isFile);
   assert(!packageInfo.isSymlink);
 
+  const packageInfoByUrl = Deno.lstatSync(pathToAbsoluteFileUrl("README.md"));
+  assert(packageInfoByUrl.isFile);
+  assert(!packageInfoByUrl.isSymlink);
+
   const modulesInfo = Deno.lstatSync("cli/tests/symlink_to_subdir");
   assert(!modulesInfo.isDirectory);
   assert(modulesInfo.isSymlink);
 
+  const modulesInfoByUrl = Deno.lstatSync(
+    pathToAbsoluteFileUrl("cli/tests/symlink_to_subdir")
+  );
+  assert(!modulesInfoByUrl.isDirectory);
+  assert(modulesInfoByUrl.isSymlink);
+
   const coreInfo = Deno.lstatSync("core");
   assert(coreInfo.isDirectory);
   assert(!coreInfo.isSymlink);
+
+  const coreInfoByUrl = Deno.lstatSync(pathToAbsoluteFileUrl("core"));
+  assert(coreInfoByUrl.isDirectory);
+  assert(!coreInfoByUrl.isSymlink);
 });
 
 unitTest({ perms: { read: false } }, function lstatSyncPerm(): void {
@@ -100,23 +154,60 @@ unitTest(
     assert(packageInfo.isFile);
     assert(!packageInfo.isSymlink);
 
+    const packageInfoByUrl = await Deno.stat(
+      pathToAbsoluteFileUrl("README.md")
+    );
+    assert(packageInfoByUrl.isFile);
+    assert(!packageInfoByUrl.isSymlink);
+
     const modulesInfo = await Deno.stat("cli/tests/symlink_to_subdir");
     assert(modulesInfo.isDirectory);
     assert(!modulesInfo.isSymlink);
 
+    const modulesInfoByUrl = await Deno.stat(
+      pathToAbsoluteFileUrl("cli/tests/symlink_to_subdir")
+    );
+    assert(modulesInfoByUrl.isDirectory);
+    assert(!modulesInfoByUrl.isSymlink);
+
     const testsInfo = await Deno.stat("cli/tests");
     assert(testsInfo.isDirectory);
     assert(!testsInfo.isSymlink);
 
+    const testsInfoByUrl = await Deno.stat(pathToAbsoluteFileUrl("cli/tests"));
+    assert(testsInfoByUrl.isDirectory);
+    assert(!testsInfoByUrl.isSymlink);
+
     const tempFile = await Deno.makeTempFile();
     const tempInfo = await Deno.stat(tempFile);
-    const now = Date.now();
+    let now = Date.now();
     assert(tempInfo.atime !== null && now - tempInfo.atime.valueOf() < 1000);
     assert(tempInfo.mtime !== null && now - tempInfo.mtime.valueOf() < 1000);
 
     assert(
       tempInfo.birthtime === null || now - tempInfo.birthtime.valueOf() < 1000
     );
+
+    const tempFileForUrl = await Deno.makeTempFile();
+    const tempInfoByUrl = await Deno.stat(
+      new URL(
+        `file://${Deno.build.os === "windows" ? "/" : ""}${tempFileForUrl}`
+      )
+    );
+    now = Date.now();
+    assert(
+      tempInfoByUrl.atime !== null && now - tempInfoByUrl.atime.valueOf() < 1000
+    );
+    assert(
+      tempInfoByUrl.mtime !== null && now - tempInfoByUrl.mtime.valueOf() < 1000
+    );
+    assert(
+      tempInfoByUrl.birthtime === null ||
+        now - tempInfoByUrl.birthtime.valueOf() < 1000
+    );
+
+    Deno.removeSync(tempFile, { recursive: true });
+    Deno.removeSync(tempFileForUrl, { recursive: true });
   }
 );
 
@@ -155,13 +246,27 @@ unitTest({ perms: { read: true } }, async function lstatSuccess(): Promise<
   assert(packageInfo.isFile);
   assert(!packageInfo.isSymlink);
 
+  const packageInfoByUrl = await Deno.lstat(pathToAbsoluteFileUrl("README.md"));
+  assert(packageInfoByUrl.isFile);
+  assert(!packageInfoByUrl.isSymlink);
+
   const modulesInfo = await Deno.lstat("cli/tests/symlink_to_subdir");
   assert(!modulesInfo.isDirectory);
   assert(modulesInfo.isSymlink);
 
+  const modulesInfoByUrl = await Deno.lstat(
+    pathToAbsoluteFileUrl("cli/tests/symlink_to_subdir")
+  );
+  assert(!modulesInfoByUrl.isDirectory);
+  assert(modulesInfoByUrl.isSymlink);
+
   const coreInfo = await Deno.lstat("core");
   assert(coreInfo.isDirectory);
   assert(!coreInfo.isSymlink);
+
+  const coreInfoByUrl = await Deno.lstat(pathToAbsoluteFileUrl("core"));
+  assert(coreInfoByUrl.isDirectory);
+  assert(!coreInfoByUrl.isSymlink);
 });
 
 unitTest({ perms: { read: false } }, async function lstatPerm(): Promise<void> {
diff --git a/cli/tests/unit/test_util.ts b/cli/tests/unit/test_util.ts
index 8b690505a9..660e135114 100644
--- a/cli/tests/unit/test_util.ts
+++ b/cli/tests/unit/test_util.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 // Copyright 2018-2020 the Deno authors. All rights reserved. MIT license.
 
 import { assert, assertEquals } from "../../../std/testing/asserts.ts";
+import { resolve } from "../../../std/path/mod.ts";
 export {
   assert,
   assertThrows,
@@ -363,3 +364,9 @@ unitTest(
     });
   }
 );
+
+export function pathToAbsoluteFileUrl(path: string): URL {
+  path = resolve(path);
+
+  return new URL(`file://${Deno.build.os === "windows" ? "/" : ""}${path}`);
+}
diff --git a/cli/tests/unit/unit_tests.ts b/cli/tests/unit/unit_tests.ts
index 7891ea418f..b16141bdc7 100644
--- a/cli/tests/unit/unit_tests.ts
+++ b/cli/tests/unit/unit_tests.ts
@@ -40,6 +40,7 @@ import "./mkdir_test.ts";
 import "./net_test.ts";
 import "./os_test.ts";
 import "./permissions_test.ts";
+import "./path_from_url_test.ts";
 import "./process_test.ts";
 import "./real_path_test.ts";
 import "./read_dir_test.ts";
diff --git a/cli/tests/unit/write_file_test.ts b/cli/tests/unit/write_file_test.ts
index 80f711dbc7..6c263c32c0 100644
--- a/cli/tests/unit/write_file_test.ts
+++ b/cli/tests/unit/write_file_test.ts
@@ -15,6 +15,25 @@ unitTest(
   }
 );
 
+unitTest(
+  { perms: { read: true, write: true } },
+  function writeFileSyncUrl(): void {
+    const enc = new TextEncoder();
+    const data = enc.encode("Hello");
+    const tempDir = Deno.makeTempDirSync();
+    const fileUrl = new URL(
+      `file://${Deno.build.os === "windows" ? "/" : ""}${tempDir}/test.txt`
+    );
+    Deno.writeFileSync(fileUrl, data);
+    const dataRead = Deno.readFileSync(fileUrl);
+    const dec = new TextDecoder("utf-8");
+    const actual = dec.decode(dataRead);
+    assertEquals("Hello", actual);
+
+    Deno.removeSync(tempDir, { recursive: true });
+  }
+);
+
 unitTest({ perms: { write: true } }, function writeFileSyncFail(): void {
   const enc = new TextEncoder();
   const data = enc.encode("Hello");
@@ -125,6 +144,25 @@ unitTest(
   }
 );
 
+unitTest(
+  { perms: { read: true, write: true } },
+  async function writeFileUrl(): Promise<void> {
+    const enc = new TextEncoder();
+    const data = enc.encode("Hello");
+    const tempDir = await Deno.makeTempDir();
+    const fileUrl = new URL(
+      `file://${Deno.build.os === "windows" ? "/" : ""}${tempDir}/test.txt`
+    );
+    await Deno.writeFile(fileUrl, data);
+    const dataRead = Deno.readFileSync(fileUrl);
+    const dec = new TextDecoder("utf-8");
+    const actual = dec.decode(dataRead);
+    assertEquals("Hello", actual);
+
+    Deno.removeSync(tempDir, { recursive: true });
+  }
+);
+
 unitTest(
   { perms: { read: true, write: true } },
   async function writeFileNotFound(): Promise<void> {
diff --git a/cli/tests/unit/write_text_file_test.ts b/cli/tests/unit/write_text_file_test.ts
index 321189b0e2..d72fa722e3 100644
--- a/cli/tests/unit/write_text_file_test.ts
+++ b/cli/tests/unit/write_text_file_test.ts
@@ -10,6 +10,21 @@ unitTest(
   }
 );
 
+unitTest(
+  { perms: { read: true, write: true } },
+  function writeTextFileSyncByUrl(): void {
+    const tempDir = Deno.makeTempDirSync();
+    const fileUrl = new URL(
+      `file://${Deno.build.os === "windows" ? "/" : ""}${tempDir}/test.txt`
+    );
+    Deno.writeTextFileSync(fileUrl, "Hello");
+    const dataRead = Deno.readTextFileSync(fileUrl);
+    assertEquals("Hello", dataRead);
+
+    Deno.removeSync(fileUrl, { recursive: true });
+  }
+);
+
 unitTest({ perms: { write: true } }, function writeTextFileSyncFail(): void {
   const filename = "/baddir/test.txt";
   // The following should fail because /baddir doesn't exist (hopefully).
@@ -46,6 +61,21 @@ unitTest(
   }
 );
 
+unitTest(
+  { perms: { read: true, write: true } },
+  async function writeTextFileByUrl(): Promise<void> {
+    const tempDir = Deno.makeTempDirSync();
+    const fileUrl = new URL(
+      `file://${Deno.build.os === "windows" ? "/" : ""}${tempDir}/test.txt`
+    );
+    await Deno.writeTextFile(fileUrl, "Hello");
+    const dataRead = Deno.readTextFileSync(fileUrl);
+    assertEquals("Hello", dataRead);
+
+    Deno.removeSync(fileUrl, { recursive: true });
+  }
+);
+
 unitTest(
   { perms: { read: true, write: true } },
   async function writeTextFileNotFound(): Promise<void> {