Node.js v24.18.0 documentation

Buffer methods are callable with Uint8Array instances#

All methods on the Buffer prototype are callable with a Uint8Array instance.

const { toString, write } = Buffer.prototype;

const uint8array = new Uint8Array(5);

write.call(uint8array, 'hello', 0, 5, 'utf8'); // 5
// <Uint8Array 68 65 6c 6c 6f>

toString.call(uint8array, 'utf8'); // 'hello' copy

new buffer.Blob([sources[, options]])#

• sources <string[]> | <ArrayBuffer[]> | <TypedArray[]> | <DataView[]> | <Blob[]> An array of string, <ArrayBuffer>, <TypedArray>, <DataView>, or <Blob> objects, or any mix of such objects, that will be stored within the Blob.
• options <Object>
  • endings <string> One of either 'transparent' or 'native'. When set to 'native', line endings in string source parts will be converted to the platform native line-ending as specified by require('node:os').EOL.
  • type <string> The Blob content-type. The intent is for type to convey the MIME media type of the data, however no validation of the type format is performed.

Creates a new Blob object containing a concatenation of the given sources.

<ArrayBuffer>, <TypedArray>, <DataView>, and <Buffer> sources are copied into the 'Blob' and can therefore be safely modified after the 'Blob' is created.

String sources are encoded as UTF-8 byte sequences and copied into the Blob. Unmatched surrogate pairs within each string part will be replaced by Unicode U+FFFD replacement characters.

blob.arrayBuffer()#

• Returns: <Promise>

Returns a promise that fulfills with an <ArrayBuffer> containing a copy of the Blob data.

blob.bytes()#

The blob.bytes() method returns the byte of the Blob object as a Promise<Uint8Array>.

const blob = new Blob(['hello']);
blob.bytes().then((bytes) => {
  console.log(bytes); // Outputs: Uint8Array(5) [ 104, 101, 108, 108, 111 ]
}); copy

blob.size#

The total size of the Blob in bytes.

blob.slice([start[, end[, type]]])#

• start <number> The starting index.
• end <number> The ending index.
• type <string> The content-type for the new Blob

Creates and returns a new Blob containing a subset of this Blob objects data. The original Blob is not altered.

blob.stream()#

• Returns: <ReadableStream>

Returns a new ReadableStream that allows the content of the Blob to be read.

blob.text()#

• Returns: <Promise>

Returns a promise that fulfills with the contents of the Blob decoded as a UTF-8 string.

blob.type#

• Type: <string>

The content-type of the Blob.

Blob objects and MessageChannel#

Once a <Blob> object is created, it can be sent via MessagePort to multiple destinations without transferring or immediately copying the data. The data contained by the Blob is copied only when the arrayBuffer() or text() methods are called.

import { Blob } from 'node:buffer';
import { setTimeout as delay } from 'node:timers/promises';

const blob = new Blob(['hello there']);

const mc1 = new MessageChannel();
const mc2 = new MessageChannel();

mc1.port1.onmessage = async ({ data }) => {
  console.log(await data.arrayBuffer());
  mc1.port1.close();
};

mc2.port1.onmessage = async ({ data }) => {
  await delay(1000);
  console.log(await data.arrayBuffer());
  mc2.port1.close();
};

mc1.port2.postMessage(blob);
mc2.port2.postMessage(blob);

// The Blob is still usable after posting.
blob.text().then(console.log);const { Blob } = require('node:buffer');
const { setTimeout: delay } = require('node:timers/promises');

const blob = new Blob(['hello there']);

const mc1 = new MessageChannel();
const mc2 = new MessageChannel();

mc1.port1.onmessage = async ({ data }) => {
  console.log(await data.arrayBuffer());
  mc1.port1.close();
};

mc2.port1.onmessage = async ({ data }) => {
  await delay(1000);
  console.log(await data.arrayBuffer());
  mc2.port1.close();
};

mc1.port2.postMessage(blob);
mc2.port2.postMessage(blob);

// The Blob is still usable after posting.
blob.text().then(console.log);copy

Static method: Buffer.alloc(size[, fill[, encoding]])#

• size <integer> The desired length of the new Buffer.
• fill <string> | <Buffer> | <Uint8Array> | <integer> A value to pre-fill the new Buffer with. Default: 0.
• encoding <string> If fill is a string, this is its encoding. Default: 'utf8'.
• Returns: <Buffer>

Allocates a new Buffer of size bytes. If fill is undefined, the Buffer will be zero-filled.

import { Buffer } from 'node:buffer';

const buf = Buffer.alloc(5);

console.log(buf);
// Prints: <Buffer 00 00 00 00 00>const { Buffer } = require('node:buffer');

const buf = Buffer.alloc(5);

console.log(buf);
// Prints: <Buffer 00 00 00 00 00>copy

If size is larger than buffer.constants.MAX_LENGTH or smaller than 0, ERR_OUT_OF_RANGE is thrown.

If fill is specified, the allocated Buffer will be initialized by calling buf.fill(fill).

import { Buffer } from 'node:buffer';

const buf = Buffer.alloc(5, 'a');

console.log(buf);
// Prints: <Buffer 61 61 61 61 61>const { Buffer } = require('node:buffer');

const buf = Buffer.alloc(5, 'a');

console.log(buf);
// Prints: <Buffer 61 61 61 61 61>copy

If both fill and encoding are specified, the allocated Buffer will be initialized by calling buf.fill(fill, encoding).

import { Buffer } from 'node:buffer';

const buf = Buffer.alloc(11, 'aGVsbG8gd29ybGQ=', 'base64');

console.log(buf);
// Prints: <Buffer 68 65 6c 6c 6f 20 77 6f 72 6c 64>const { Buffer } = require('node:buffer');

const buf = Buffer.alloc(11, 'aGVsbG8gd29ybGQ=', 'base64');

console.log(buf);
// Prints: <Buffer 68 65 6c 6c 6f 20 77 6f 72 6c 64>copy

Calling Buffer.alloc() can be measurably slower than the alternative Buffer.allocUnsafe() but ensures that the newly created Buffer instance contents will never contain sensitive data from previous allocations, including data that might not have been allocated for Buffers.

A TypeError will be thrown if size is not a number.

Static method: Buffer.allocUnsafe(size)#

• size <integer> The desired length of the new Buffer.
• Returns: <Buffer>

Allocates a new Buffer of size bytes. If size is larger than buffer.constants.MAX_LENGTH or smaller than 0, ERR_OUT_OF_RANGE is thrown.

The underlying memory for Buffer instances created in this way is not initialized. The contents of the newly created Buffer are unknown and may contain sensitive data. Use Buffer.alloc() instead to initialize Buffer instances with zeroes.

import { Buffer } from 'node:buffer';

const buf = Buffer.allocUnsafe(10);

console.log(buf);
// Prints (contents may vary): <Buffer a0 8b 28 3f 01 00 00 00 50 32>

buf.fill(0);

console.log(buf);
// Prints: <Buffer 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00>const { Buffer } = require('node:buffer');

const buf = Buffer.allocUnsafe(10);

console.log(buf);
// Prints (contents may vary): <Buffer a0 8b 28 3f 01 00 00 00 50 32>

buf.fill(0);

console.log(buf);
// Prints: <Buffer 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00>copy

A TypeError will be thrown if size is not a number.

The Buffer module pre-allocates an internal Buffer instance of size Buffer.poolSize that is used as a pool for the fast allocation of new Buffer instances created using Buffer.allocUnsafe(), Buffer.from(array), Buffer.from(string), and Buffer.concat() only when size is less than Buffer.poolSize >>> 1 (floor of Buffer.poolSize divided by two).

Use of this pre-allocated internal memory pool is a key difference between calling Buffer.alloc(size, fill) vs. Buffer.allocUnsafe(size).fill(fill). Specifically, Buffer.alloc(size, fill) will never use the internal Buffer pool, while Buffer.allocUnsafe(size).fill(fill) will use the internal Buffer pool if size is less than or equal to half Buffer.poolSize. The difference is subtle but can be important when an application requires the additional performance that Buffer.allocUnsafe() provides.

Static method: Buffer.allocUnsafeSlow(size)#

• size <integer> The desired length of the new Buffer.
• Returns: <Buffer>

Allocates a new Buffer of size bytes. If size is larger than buffer.constants.MAX_LENGTH or smaller than 0, ERR_OUT_OF_RANGE is thrown. A zero-length Buffer is created if size is 0.

The underlying memory for Buffer instances created in this way is not initialized. The contents of the newly created Buffer are unknown and may contain sensitive data. Use buf.fill(0) to initialize such Buffer instances with zeroes.

When using Buffer.allocUnsafe() to allocate new Buffer instances, allocations less than Buffer.poolSize >>> 1 (32KiB when default poolSize is used) are sliced from a single pre-allocated Buffer. This allows applications to avoid the garbage collection overhead of creating many individually allocated Buffer instances. This approach improves both performance and memory usage by eliminating the need to track and clean up as many individual ArrayBuffer objects.

However, in the case where a developer may need to retain a small chunk of memory from a pool for an indeterminate amount of time, it may be appropriate to create an un-pooled Buffer instance using Buffer.allocUnsafeSlow() and then copying out the relevant bits.

import { Buffer } from 'node:buffer';

// Need to keep around a few small chunks of memory.
const store = [];

socket.on('readable', () => {
  let data;
  while (null !== (data = readable.read())) {
    // Allocate for retained data.
    const sb = Buffer.allocUnsafeSlow(10);

    // Copy the data into the new allocation.
    data.copy(sb, 0, 0, 10);

    store.push(sb);
  }
});const { Buffer } = require('node:buffer');

// Need to keep around a few small chunks of memory.
const store = [];

socket.on('readable', () => {
  let data;
  while (null !== (data = readable.read())) {
    // Allocate for retained data.
    const sb = Buffer.allocUnsafeSlow(10);

    // Copy the data into the new allocation.
    data.copy(sb, 0, 0, 10);

    store.push(sb);
  }
});copy

A TypeError will be thrown if size is not a number.

Static method: Buffer.byteLength(string[, encoding])#

• string <string> | <Buffer> | <TypedArray> | <DataView> | <ArrayBuffer> | <SharedArrayBuffer> A value to calculate the length of.
• encoding <string> If string is a string, this is its encoding. Default: 'utf8'.
• Returns: <integer> The number of bytes contained within string.

Returns the byte length of a string when encoded using encoding. This is not the same as String.prototype.length, which does not account for the encoding that is used to convert the string into bytes.

For 'base64', 'base64url', and 'hex', this function assumes valid input. For strings that contain non-base64/hex-encoded data (e.g. whitespace), the return value might be greater than the length of a Buffer created from the string.

import { Buffer } from 'node:buffer';

const str = '\u00bd + \u00bc = \u00be';

console.log(`${str}: ${str.length} characters, ` +
            `${Buffer.byteLength(str, 'utf8')} bytes`);
// Prints: ½ + ¼ = ¾: 9 characters, 12 bytesconst { Buffer } = require('node:buffer');

const str = '\u00bd + \u00bc = \u00be';

console.log(`${str}: ${str.length} characters, ` +
            `${Buffer.byteLength(str, 'utf8')} bytes`);
// Prints: ½ + ¼ = ¾: 9 characters, 12 bytescopy

When string is a <Buffer> | <DataView> | <TypedArray> | <ArrayBuffer> | <SharedArrayBuffer>, the byte length as reported by .byteLength is returned.

Static method: Buffer.compare(buf1, buf2)#

• buf1 <Buffer> | <Uint8Array>
• buf2 <Buffer> | <Uint8Array>
• Returns: <integer> Either -1, 0, or 1, depending on the result of the comparison. See buf.compare() for details.

Compares buf1 to buf2, typically for the purpose of sorting arrays of Buffer instances. This is equivalent to calling buf1.compare(buf2).

import { Buffer } from 'node:buffer';

const buf1 = Buffer.from('1234');
const buf2 = Buffer.from('0123');
const arr = [buf1, buf2];

console.log(arr.sort(Buffer.compare));
// Prints: [ <Buffer 30 31 32 33>, <Buffer 31 32 33 34> ]
// (This result is equal to: [buf2, buf1].)const { Buffer } = require('node:buffer');

const buf1 = Buffer.from('1234');
const buf2 = Buffer.from('0123');
const arr = [buf1, buf2];

console.log(arr.sort(Buffer.compare));
// Prints: [ <Buffer 30 31 32 33>, <Buffer 31 32 33 34> ]
// (This result is equal to: [buf2, buf1].)copy

Static method: Buffer.concat(list[, totalLength])#

• list <Buffer[]> | <Uint8Array[]> List of Buffer or <Uint8Array> instances to concatenate.
• totalLength <integer> Total length of the Buffer instances in list when concatenated.
• Returns: <Buffer>

Returns a new Buffer which is the result of concatenating all the Buffer instances in the list together.

If the list has no items, or if the totalLength is 0, then a new zero-length Buffer is returned.

If totalLength is not provided, it is calculated from the Buffer instances in list by adding their lengths.

If totalLength is provided, it must be an unsigned integer. If the combined length of the Buffers in list exceeds totalLength, the result is truncated to totalLength. If the combined length of the Buffers in list is less than totalLength, the remaining space is filled with zeros.

import { Buffer } from 'node:buffer';

// Create a single `Buffer` from a list of three `Buffer` instances.

const buf1 = Buffer.alloc(10);
const buf2 = Buffer.alloc(14);
const buf3 = Buffer.alloc(18);
const totalLength = buf1.length + buf2.length + buf3.length;

console.log(totalLength);
// Prints: 42

const bufA = Buffer.concat([buf1, buf2, buf3], totalLength);

console.log(bufA);
// Prints: <Buffer 00 00 00 00 ...>
console.log(bufA.length);
// Prints: 42const { Buffer } = require('node:buffer');

// Create a single `Buffer` from a list of three `Buffer` instances.

const buf1 = Buffer.alloc(10);
const buf2 = Buffer.alloc(14);
const buf3 = Buffer.alloc(18);
const totalLength = buf1.length + buf2.length + buf3.length;

console.log(totalLength);
// Prints: 42

const bufA = Buffer.concat([buf1, buf2, buf3], totalLength);

console.log(bufA);
// Prints: <Buffer 00 00 00 00 ...>
console.log(bufA.length);
// Prints: 42copy

Buffer.concat() may also use the internal Buffer pool like Buffer.allocUnsafe() does.

Static method: Buffer.copyBytesFrom(view[, offset[, length]])#

• view <TypedArray> The <TypedArray> to copy.
• offset <integer> The starting offset within view. Default: 0.
• length <integer> The number of elements from view to copy. Default: view.length - offset.
• Returns: <Buffer>

Copies the underlying memory of view into a new Buffer.

const u16 = new Uint16Array([0, 0xffff]);
const buf = Buffer.copyBytesFrom(u16, 1, 1);
u16[1] = 0;
console.log(buf.length); // 2
console.log(buf[0]); // 255
console.log(buf[1]); // 255 copy

Static method: Buffer.from(array)#

• array <integer[]>
• Returns: <Buffer>

Allocates a new Buffer using an array of bytes in the range 0 – 255. Array entries outside that range will be truncated to fit into it.

import { Buffer } from 'node:buffer';

// Creates a new Buffer containing the UTF-8 bytes of the string 'buffer'.
const buf = Buffer.from([0x62, 0x75, 0x66, 0x66, 0x65, 0x72]);const { Buffer } = require('node:buffer');

// Creates a new Buffer containing the UTF-8 bytes of the string 'buffer'.
const buf = Buffer.from([0x62, 0x75, 0x66, 0x66, 0x65, 0x72]);copy

If array is an Array-like object (that is, one with a length property of type number), it is treated as if it is an array, unless it is a Buffer or a Uint8Array. This means all other TypedArray variants get treated as an Array. To create a Buffer from the bytes backing a TypedArray, use Buffer.copyBytesFrom().

A TypeError will be thrown if array is not an Array or another type appropriate for Buffer.from() variants.

Buffer.from(array) and Buffer.from(string) may also use the internal Buffer pool like Buffer.allocUnsafe() does.

Static method: Buffer.from(arrayBuffer[, byteOffset[, length]])#

• arrayBuffer <ArrayBuffer> | <SharedArrayBuffer> An <ArrayBuffer>, <SharedArrayBuffer>, for example the .buffer property of a <TypedArray>.
• byteOffset <integer> Index of first byte to expose. Default: 0.
• length <integer> Number of bytes to expose. Default: arrayBuffer.byteLength - byteOffset.
• Returns: <Buffer>

This creates a view of the <ArrayBuffer> without copying the underlying memory. For example, when passed a reference to the .buffer property of a <TypedArray> instance, the newly created Buffer will share the same allocated memory as the <TypedArray>'s underlying ArrayBuffer.

import { Buffer } from 'node:buffer';

const arr = new Uint16Array(2);

arr[0] = 5000;
arr[1] = 4000;

// Shares memory with `arr`.
const buf = Buffer.from(arr.buffer);

console.log(buf);
// Prints: <Buffer 88 13 a0 0f>

// Changing the original Uint16Array changes the Buffer also.
arr[1] = 6000;

console.log(buf);
// Prints: <Buffer 88 13 70 17>const { Buffer } = require('node:buffer');

const arr = new Uint16Array(2);

arr[0] = 5000;
arr[1] = 4000;

// Shares memory with `arr`.
const buf = Buffer.from(arr.buffer);

console.log(buf);
// Prints: <Buffer 88 13 a0 0f>

// Changing the original Uint16Array changes the Buffer also.
arr[1] = 6000;

console.log(buf);
// Prints: <Buffer 88 13 70 17>copy

The optional byteOffset and length arguments specify a memory range within the arrayBuffer that will be shared by the Buffer.

import { Buffer } from 'node:buffer';

const ab = new ArrayBuffer(10);
const buf = Buffer.from(ab, 0, 2);

console.log(buf.length);
// Prints: 2const { Buffer } = require('node:buffer');

const ab = new ArrayBuffer(10);
const buf = Buffer.from(ab, 0, 2);

console.log(buf.length);
// Prints: 2copy

A TypeError will be thrown if arrayBuffer is not an <ArrayBuffer> or a <SharedArrayBuffer> or another type appropriate for Buffer.from() variants.

It is important to remember that a backing ArrayBuffer can cover a range of memory that extends beyond the bounds of a TypedArray view. A new Buffer created using the buffer property of a TypedArray may extend beyond the range of the TypedArray:

import { Buffer } from 'node:buffer';

const arrA = Uint8Array.from([0x63, 0x64, 0x65, 0x66]); // 4 elements
const arrB = new Uint8Array(arrA.buffer, 1, 2); // 2 elements
console.log(arrA.buffer === arrB.buffer); // true

const buf = Buffer.from(arrB.buffer);
console.log(buf);
// Prints: <Buffer 63 64 65 66>const { Buffer } = require('node:buffer');

const arrA = Uint8Array.from([0x63, 0x64, 0x65, 0x66]); // 4 elements
const arrB = new Uint8Array(arrA.buffer, 1, 2); // 2 elements
console.log(arrA.buffer === arrB.buffer); // true

const buf = Buffer.from(arrB.buffer);
console.log(buf);
// Prints: <Buffer 63 64 65 66>copy

Static method: Buffer.from(buffer)#

• buffer <Buffer> | <Uint8Array> An existing Buffer or <Uint8Array> from which to copy data.
• Returns: <Buffer>

Copies the passed buffer data onto a new Buffer instance.

import { Buffer } from 'node:buffer';

const buf1 = Buffer.from('buffer');
const buf2 = Buffer.from(buf1);

buf1[0] = 0x61;

console.log(buf1.toString());
// Prints: auffer
console.log(buf2.toString());
// Prints: bufferconst { Buffer } = require('node:buffer');

const buf1 = Buffer.from('buffer');
const buf2 = Buffer.from(buf1);

buf1[0] = 0x61;

console.log(buf1.toString());
// Prints: auffer
console.log(buf2.toString());
// Prints: buffercopy

A TypeError will be thrown if buffer is not a Buffer or another type appropriate for Buffer.from() variants.

Static method: Buffer.from(object[, offsetOrEncoding[, length]])#

• object <Object> An object supporting Symbol.toPrimitive or valueOf().
• offsetOrEncoding <integer> | <string> A byte-offset or encoding.
• length <integer> A length.
• Returns: <Buffer>

For objects whose valueOf() function returns a value not strictly equal to object, returns Buffer.from(object.valueOf(), offsetOrEncoding, length).

import { Buffer } from 'node:buffer';

const buf = Buffer.from(new String('this is a test'));
// Prints: <Buffer 74 68 69 73 20 69 73 20 61 20 74 65 73 74>const { Buffer } = require('node:buffer');

const buf = Buffer.from(new String('this is a test'));
// Prints: <Buffer 74 68 69 73 20 69 73 20 61 20 74 65 73 74>copy

For objects that support Symbol.toPrimitive, returns Buffer.from(object[Symbol.toPrimitive]('string'), offsetOrEncoding).

import { Buffer } from 'node:buffer';

class Foo {
  [Symbol.toPrimitive]() {
    return 'this is a test';
  }
}

const buf = Buffer.from(new Foo(), 'utf8');
// Prints: <Buffer 74 68 69 73 20 69 73 20 61 20 74 65 73 74>const { Buffer } = require('node:buffer');

class Foo {
  [Symbol.toPrimitive]() {
    return 'this is a test';
  }
}

const buf = Buffer.from(new Foo(), 'utf8');
// Prints: <Buffer 74 68 69 73 20 69 73 20 61 20 74 65 73 74>copy

A TypeError will be thrown if object does not have the mentioned methods or is not of another type appropriate for Buffer.from() variants.

Static method: Buffer.from(string[, encoding])#

• string <string> A string to encode.
• encoding <string> The encoding of string. Default: 'utf8'.
• Returns: <Buffer>

Creates a new Buffer containing string. The encoding parameter identifies the character encoding to be used when converting string into bytes.

import { Buffer } from 'node:buffer';

const buf1 = Buffer.from('this is a tést');
const buf2 = Buffer.from('7468697320697320612074c3a97374', 'hex');

console.log(buf1.toString());
// Prints: this is a tést
console.log(buf2.toString());
// Prints: this is a tést
console.log(buf1.toString('latin1'));
// Prints: this is a téstconst { Buffer } = require('node:buffer');

const buf1 = Buffer.from('this is a tést');
const buf2 = Buffer.from('7468697320697320612074c3a97374', 'hex');

console.log(buf1.toString());
// Prints: this is a tést
console.log(buf2.toString());
// Prints: this is a tést
console.log(buf1.toString('latin1'));
// Prints: this is a téstcopy

A TypeError will be thrown if string is not a string or another type appropriate for Buffer.from() variants.

Buffer.from(string) may also use the internal Buffer pool like Buffer.allocUnsafe() does.

Static method: Buffer.isBuffer(obj)#

• obj <Object>
• Returns: <boolean>

Returns true if obj is a Buffer, false otherwise.

import { Buffer } from 'node:buffer';

Buffer.isBuffer(Buffer.alloc(10)); // true
Buffer.isBuffer(Buffer.from('foo')); // true
Buffer.isBuffer('a string'); // false
Buffer.isBuffer([]); // false
Buffer.isBuffer(new Uint8Array(1024)); // falseconst { Buffer } = require('node:buffer');

Buffer.isBuffer(Buffer.alloc(10)); // true
Buffer.isBuffer(Buffer.from('foo')); // true
Buffer.isBuffer('a string'); // false
Buffer.isBuffer([]); // false
Buffer.isBuffer(new Uint8Array(1024)); // falsecopy

Static method: Buffer.isEncoding(encoding)#

• encoding <string> A character encoding name to check.
• Returns: <boolean>

Returns true if encoding is the name of a supported character encoding, or false otherwise.

import { Buffer } from 'node:buffer';

console.log(Buffer.isEncoding('utf8'));
// Prints: true

console.log(Buffer.isEncoding('hex'));
// Prints: true

console.log(Buffer.isEncoding('utf/8'));
// Prints: false

console.log(Buffer.isEncoding(''));
// Prints: falseconst { Buffer } = require('node:buffer');

console.log(Buffer.isEncoding('utf8'));
// Prints: true

console.log(Buffer.isEncoding('hex'));
// Prints: true

console.log(Buffer.isEncoding('utf/8'));
// Prints: false

console.log(Buffer.isEncoding(''));
// Prints: falsecopy

Buffer.poolSize#

• Type: <integer> Default: 65536

This is the size (in bytes) of pre-allocated internal Buffer instances used for pooling. This value may be modified.

buf[index]#