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The 'buffer' npm package provides a way to handle binary data in Node.js. It implements the Buffer class, which is a global type for dealing with binary data directly. Buffers are similar to arrays of integers but correspond to fixed-sized, raw memory allocations outside the V8 heap. They are useful when working with TCP streams, file system operations, and other contexts where it's necessary to handle raw binary data.
Creating Buffers
This code sample demonstrates how to create a new Buffer instance from a given string and encoding. The 'from' method is a static method on the Buffer class used to allocate a new Buffer that contains the given string.
const buffer = Buffer.from('Hello World', 'utf8');
Writing to Buffers
This code sample shows how to write to a buffer. The 'alloc' method creates a new Buffer of a specified size, and the 'write' method writes a string to the buffer at a specified offset using a given encoding.
const buffer = Buffer.alloc(10); buffer.write('Hello', 0, 'utf8');
Reading from Buffers
This code sample illustrates how to read data from a buffer. The 'toString' method converts the buffer's contents to a string using the specified encoding.
const buffer = Buffer.from('Hello World'); const string = buffer.toString('utf8');
Manipulating Buffers
This code sample demonstrates how to concatenate two buffers into a new buffer using the 'concat' method.
const buffer1 = Buffer.from('Hello'); const buffer2 = Buffer.from('World'); const concatenated = Buffer.concat([buffer1, buffer2]);
Buffer Slicing
This code sample shows how to create a new buffer that references the same memory as the original buffer but with the specified start and end indices, effectively creating a slice of the original buffer.
const buffer = Buffer.from('Hello World'); const slice = buffer.slice(0, 5);
The 'typedarray' package provides an implementation of Typed Arrays, which are array-like views of binary data buffers. While similar to Node.js Buffers, Typed Arrays are part of the ECMAScript standard and are available in browsers as well as Node.js.
The 'bl' (Buffer List) package is a storage object for collections of Node.js Buffers. Unlike the Buffer class, which deals with single Buffer instances, 'bl' provides a way to join multiple buffers into one continuous buffer and still maintain access to the individual buffers.
The 'concat-stream' package is a writable stream that concatenates all the data from a stream and calls a callback with the result. It is similar to the Buffer.concat method but works with streams, collecting data chunks and concatenating them into a single buffer or string.
With browserify, simply require('buffer')
or use the Buffer
global and you will get this module.
The goal is to provide an API that is 100% identical to node's Buffer API. Read the official docs for the full list of properties, instance methods, and class methods that are supported.
Uint8Array
/ArrayBuffer
, not Object
).slice()
returns instances of the same type (Buffer)buf[4]
notation works, even in old browsers like IE6!window
To use this module directly (without browserify), install it:
npm install buffer
This module was previously called native-buffer-browserify, but please use buffer from now on.
A standalone bundle is available here, for non-browserify users.
The module's API is identical to node's Buffer
API. Read the
official docs for the full list of properties,
instance methods, and class methods that are supported.
As mentioned above, require('buffer')
or use the Buffer
global with
browserify and this module will automatically be included
in your bundle. Almost any npm module will work in the browser, even if it assumes that
the node Buffer
API will be available.
To depend on this module explicitly (without browserify), require it like this:
var Buffer = require('buffer/').Buffer // note: the trailing slash is important!
To require this module explicitly, use require('buffer/')
which tells the node.js module
lookup algorithm (also used by browserify) to use the npm module named buffer
instead of the node.js core module named buffer
!
Buffer
is a subclass of Uint8Array
augmented with all the Buffer
API methods.
The Uint8Array
prototype is not modified.
buf.slice()
does not modify parent buffer's memoryIf you only support modern browsers (specifically, those with typed array support), then this issue does not affect you. If you support super old browsers, then read on.
In node, the slice()
method returns a new Buffer
that shares underlying memory
with the original Buffer. When you modify one buffer, you modify the other.
Read more.
In browsers with typed array support, this Buffer
implementation supports this
behavior. In browsers without typed arrays, an alternate buffer implementation is
used that is based on Object
which has no mechanism to point separate
Buffer
s to the same underlying slab of memory.
You can see which browser versions lack typed array support here.
This module tracks the Buffer API in the latest (unstable) version of node.js. The Buffer API is considered stable in the node stability index, so it is unlikely that there will ever be breaking changes. Nonetheless, when/if the Buffer API changes in node, this module's API will change accordingly.
See perf tests in /perf
.
BrowserBuffer
is the browser buffer
module (this repo). Uint8Array
is included as a
sanity check (since BrowserBuffer
uses Uint8Array
under the hood, Uint8Array
will
always be at least a bit faster). Finally, NodeBuffer
is the node.js buffer module,
which is included to compare against.
Method | Operations | Accuracy | Sampled | Fastest |
---|---|---|---|---|
BrowserBuffer#bracket-notation | 11,457,464 ops/sec | ±0.86% | 66 | ✓ |
Uint8Array#bracket-notation | 10,824,332 ops/sec | ±0.74% | 65 | |
BrowserBuffer#concat | 450,532 ops/sec | ±0.76% | 68 | |
Uint8Array#concat | 1,368,911 ops/sec | ±1.50% | 62 | ✓ |
BrowserBuffer#copy(16000) | 903,001 ops/sec | ±0.96% | 67 | |
Uint8Array#copy(16000) | 1,422,441 ops/sec | ±1.04% | 66 | ✓ |
BrowserBuffer#copy(16) | 11,431,358 ops/sec | ±0.46% | 69 | |
Uint8Array#copy(16) | 13,944,163 ops/sec | ±1.12% | 68 | ✓ |
BrowserBuffer#new(16000) | 106,329 ops/sec | ±6.70% | 44 | |
Uint8Array#new(16000) | 131,001 ops/sec | ±2.85% | 31 | ✓ |
BrowserBuffer#new(16) | 1,554,491 ops/sec | ±1.60% | 65 | |
Uint8Array#new(16) | 6,623,930 ops/sec | ±1.66% | 65 | ✓ |
BrowserBuffer#readDoubleBE | 112,830 ops/sec | ±0.51% | 69 | ✓ |
DataView#getFloat64 | 93,500 ops/sec | ±0.57% | 68 | |
BrowserBuffer#readFloatBE | 146,678 ops/sec | ±0.95% | 68 | ✓ |
DataView#getFloat32 | 99,311 ops/sec | ±0.41% | 67 | |
BrowserBuffer#readUInt32LE | 843,214 ops/sec | ±0.70% | 69 | ✓ |
DataView#getUint32 | 103,024 ops/sec | ±0.64% | 67 | |
BrowserBuffer#slice | 1,013,941 ops/sec | ±0.75% | 67 | |
Uint8Array#subarray | 1,903,928 ops/sec | ±0.53% | 67 | ✓ |
BrowserBuffer#writeFloatBE | 61,387 ops/sec | ±0.90% | 67 | |
DataView#setFloat32 | 141,249 ops/sec | ±0.40% | 66 | ✓ |
Method | Operations | Accuracy | Sampled | Fastest |
---|---|---|---|---|
BrowserBuffer#bracket-notation | 20,800,421 ops/sec | ±1.84% | 60 | |
Uint8Array#bracket-notation | 20,826,235 ops/sec | ±2.02% | 61 | ✓ |
BrowserBuffer#concat | 153,076 ops/sec | ±2.32% | 61 | |
Uint8Array#concat | 1,255,674 ops/sec | ±8.65% | 52 | ✓ |
BrowserBuffer#copy(16000) | 1,105,312 ops/sec | ±1.16% | 63 | |
Uint8Array#copy(16000) | 1,615,911 ops/sec | ±0.55% | 66 | ✓ |
BrowserBuffer#copy(16) | 16,357,599 ops/sec | ±0.73% | 68 | |
Uint8Array#copy(16) | 31,436,281 ops/sec | ±1.05% | 68 | ✓ |
BrowserBuffer#new(16000) | 52,995 ops/sec | ±6.01% | 35 | |
Uint8Array#new(16000) | 87,686 ops/sec | ±5.68% | 45 | ✓ |
BrowserBuffer#new(16) | 252,031 ops/sec | ±1.61% | 66 | |
Uint8Array#new(16) | 8,477,026 ops/sec | ±0.49% | 68 | ✓ |
BrowserBuffer#readDoubleBE | 99,871 ops/sec | ±0.41% | 69 | |
DataView#getFloat64 | 285,663 ops/sec | ±0.70% | 68 | ✓ |
BrowserBuffer#readFloatBE | 115,540 ops/sec | ±0.42% | 69 | |
DataView#getFloat32 | 288,722 ops/sec | ±0.82% | 68 | ✓ |
BrowserBuffer#readUInt32LE | 633,926 ops/sec | ±1.08% | 67 | ✓ |
DataView#getUint32 | 294,808 ops/sec | ±0.79% | 64 | |
BrowserBuffer#slice | 349,425 ops/sec | ±0.46% | 69 | |
Uint8Array#subarray | 5,965,819 ops/sec | ±0.60% | 65 | ✓ |
BrowserBuffer#writeFloatBE | 59,980 ops/sec | ±0.41% | 67 | |
DataView#setFloat32 | 317,634 ops/sec | ±0.63% | 68 | ✓ |
Method | Operations | Accuracy | Sampled | Fastest |
---|---|---|---|---|
BrowserBuffer#bracket-notation | 10,279,729 ops/sec | ±2.25% | 56 | ✓ |
Uint8Array#bracket-notation | 10,030,767 ops/sec | ±2.23% | 59 | |
BrowserBuffer#concat | 144,138 ops/sec | ±1.38% | 65 | |
Uint8Array#concat | 4,950,764 ops/sec | ±1.70% | 63 | ✓ |
BrowserBuffer#copy(16000) | 1,058,548 ops/sec | ±1.51% | 64 | |
Uint8Array#copy(16000) | 1,409,666 ops/sec | ±1.17% | 65 | ✓ |
BrowserBuffer#copy(16) | 6,282,529 ops/sec | ±1.88% | 58 | |
Uint8Array#copy(16) | 11,907,128 ops/sec | ±2.87% | 58 | ✓ |
BrowserBuffer#new(16000) | 101,663 ops/sec | ±3.89% | 57 | |
Uint8Array#new(16000) | 22,050,818 ops/sec | ±6.51% | 46 | ✓ |
BrowserBuffer#new(16) | 176,072 ops/sec | ±2.13% | 64 | |
Uint8Array#new(16) | 24,385,731 ops/sec | ±5.01% | 51 | ✓ |
BrowserBuffer#readDoubleBE | 41,341 ops/sec | ±1.06% | 67 | |
DataView#getFloat64 | 322,280 ops/sec | ±0.84% | 68 | ✓ |
BrowserBuffer#readFloatBE | 46,141 ops/sec | ±1.06% | 65 | |
DataView#getFloat32 | 337,025 ops/sec | ±0.43% | 69 | ✓ |
BrowserBuffer#readUInt32LE | 151,551 ops/sec | ±1.02% | 66 | |
DataView#getUint32 | 308,278 ops/sec | ±0.94% | 67 | ✓ |
BrowserBuffer#slice | 197,365 ops/sec | ±0.95% | 66 | |
Uint8Array#subarray | 9,558,024 ops/sec | ±3.08% | 58 | ✓ |
BrowserBuffer#writeFloatBE | 17,518 ops/sec | ±1.03% | 63 | |
DataView#setFloat32 | 319,751 ops/sec | ±0.48% | 68 | ✓ |
Method | Operations | Accuracy | Sampled | Fastest |
---|---|---|---|---|
BrowserBuffer#bracket-notation | 10,489,828 ops/sec | ±3.25% | 90 | |
Uint8Array#bracket-notation | 10,534,884 ops/sec | ±0.81% | 92 | ✓ |
NodeBuffer#bracket-notation | 10,389,910 ops/sec | ±0.97% | 87 | |
BrowserBuffer#concat | 487,830 ops/sec | ±2.58% | 88 | |
Uint8Array#concat | 1,814,327 ops/sec | ±1.28% | 88 | ✓ |
NodeBuffer#concat | 1,636,523 ops/sec | ±1.88% | 73 | |
BrowserBuffer#copy(16000) | 1,073,665 ops/sec | ±0.77% | 90 | |
Uint8Array#copy(16000) | 1,348,517 ops/sec | ±0.84% | 89 | ✓ |
NodeBuffer#copy(16000) | 1,289,533 ops/sec | ±0.82% | 93 | |
BrowserBuffer#copy(16) | 12,782,706 ops/sec | ±0.74% | 85 | |
Uint8Array#copy(16) | 14,180,427 ops/sec | ±0.93% | 92 | ✓ |
NodeBuffer#copy(16) | 11,083,134 ops/sec | ±1.06% | 89 | |
BrowserBuffer#new(16000) | 141,678 ops/sec | ±3.30% | 67 | |
Uint8Array#new(16000) | 161,491 ops/sec | ±2.96% | 60 | |
NodeBuffer#new(16000) | 292,699 ops/sec | ±3.20% | 55 | ✓ |
BrowserBuffer#new(16) | 1,655,466 ops/sec | ±2.41% | 82 | |
Uint8Array#new(16) | 14,399,926 ops/sec | ±0.91% | 94 | ✓ |
NodeBuffer#new(16) | 3,894,696 ops/sec | ±0.88% | 92 | |
BrowserBuffer#readDoubleBE | 109,582 ops/sec | ±0.75% | 93 | ✓ |
DataView#getFloat64 | 91,235 ops/sec | ±0.81% | 90 | |
NodeBuffer#readDoubleBE | 88,593 ops/sec | ±0.96% | 81 | |
BrowserBuffer#readFloatBE | 139,854 ops/sec | ±1.03% | 85 | ✓ |
DataView#getFloat32 | 98,744 ops/sec | ±0.80% | 89 | |
NodeBuffer#readFloatBE | 92,769 ops/sec | ±0.94% | 93 | |
BrowserBuffer#readUInt32LE | 710,861 ops/sec | ±0.82% | 92 | |
DataView#getUint32 | 117,893 ops/sec | ±0.84% | 91 | |
NodeBuffer#readUInt32LE | 851,412 ops/sec | ±0.72% | 93 | ✓ |
BrowserBuffer#slice | 1,673,877 ops/sec | ±0.73% | 94 | |
Uint8Array#subarray | 6,919,243 ops/sec | ±0.67% | 90 | ✓ |
NodeBuffer#slice | 4,617,604 ops/sec | ±0.79% | 93 | |
BrowserBuffer#writeFloatBE | 66,011 ops/sec | ±0.75% | 93 | |
DataView#setFloat32 | 127,760 ops/sec | ±0.72% | 93 | ✓ |
NodeBuffer#writeFloatBE | 103,352 ops/sec | ±0.83% | 93 |
Method | Operations | Accuracy | Sampled | Fastest |
---|---|---|---|---|
BrowserBuffer#bracket-notation | 10,990,488 ops/sec | ±1.11% | 91 | |
Uint8Array#bracket-notation | 11,268,757 ops/sec | ±0.65% | 97 | |
NodeBuffer#bracket-notation | 11,353,260 ops/sec | ±0.83% | 94 | ✓ |
BrowserBuffer#concat | 378,954 ops/sec | ±0.74% | 94 | |
Uint8Array#concat | 1,358,288 ops/sec | ±0.97% | 87 | |
NodeBuffer#concat | 1,934,050 ops/sec | ±1.11% | 78 | ✓ |
BrowserBuffer#copy(16000) | 894,538 ops/sec | ±0.56% | 84 | |
Uint8Array#copy(16000) | 1,442,656 ops/sec | ±0.71% | 96 | |
NodeBuffer#copy(16000) | 1,457,898 ops/sec | ±0.53% | 92 | ✓ |
BrowserBuffer#copy(16) | 12,870,457 ops/sec | ±0.67% | 95 | |
Uint8Array#copy(16) | 16,643,989 ops/sec | ±0.61% | 93 | ✓ |
NodeBuffer#copy(16) | 14,885,848 ops/sec | ±0.74% | 94 | |
BrowserBuffer#new(16000) | 109,264 ops/sec | ±4.21% | 63 | |
Uint8Array#new(16000) | 138,916 ops/sec | ±1.87% | 61 | |
NodeBuffer#new(16000) | 281,449 ops/sec | ±3.58% | 51 | ✓ |
BrowserBuffer#new(16) | 1,362,935 ops/sec | ±0.56% | 99 | |
Uint8Array#new(16) | 6,193,090 ops/sec | ±0.64% | 95 | ✓ |
NodeBuffer#new(16) | 4,745,425 ops/sec | ±1.56% | 90 | |
BrowserBuffer#readDoubleBE | 118,127 ops/sec | ±0.59% | 93 | ✓ |
DataView#getFloat64 | 107,332 ops/sec | ±0.65% | 91 | |
NodeBuffer#readDoubleBE | 116,274 ops/sec | ±0.94% | 95 | |
BrowserBuffer#readFloatBE | 150,326 ops/sec | ±0.58% | 95 | ✓ |
DataView#getFloat32 | 110,541 ops/sec | ±0.57% | 98 | |
NodeBuffer#readFloatBE | 121,599 ops/sec | ±0.60% | 87 | |
BrowserBuffer#readUInt32LE | 814,147 ops/sec | ±0.62% | 93 | |
DataView#getUint32 | 137,592 ops/sec | ±0.64% | 90 | |
NodeBuffer#readUInt32LE | 931,650 ops/sec | ±0.71% | 96 | ✓ |
BrowserBuffer#slice | 878,590 ops/sec | ±0.68% | 93 | |
Uint8Array#subarray | 2,843,308 ops/sec | ±1.02% | 90 | |
NodeBuffer#slice | 4,998,316 ops/sec | ±0.68% | 90 | ✓ |
BrowserBuffer#writeFloatBE | 65,927 ops/sec | ±0.74% | 93 | |
DataView#setFloat32 | 139,823 ops/sec | ±0.97% | 89 | ✓ |
NodeBuffer#writeFloatBE | 135,763 ops/sec | ±0.65% | 96 | |
This module uses JavaScript Standard Style.
This was originally forked from buffer-browserify.
MIT. Copyright (C) Feross Aboukhadijeh, and other contributors. Originally forked from an MIT-licensed module by Romain Beauxis.
FAQs
Node.js Buffer API, for the browser
The npm package buffer receives a total of 12,872,209 weekly downloads. As such, buffer popularity was classified as popular.
We found that buffer demonstrated a not healthy version release cadence and project activity because the last version was released a year ago. It has 1 open source maintainer collaborating on the project.
Did you know?
Socket for GitHub automatically highlights issues in each pull request and monitors the health of all your open source dependencies. Discover the contents of your packages and block harmful activity before you install or update your dependencies.
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