# buffer [![travis][travis-image]][travis-url] [![npm][npm-image]][npm-url] [![downloads][downloads-image]][downloads-url] [![javascript style guide][standard-image]][standard-url] [travis-image]: https://img.shields.io/travis/feross/buffer/master.svg [travis-url]: https://travis-ci.org/feross/buffer [npm-image]: https://img.shields.io/npm/v/buffer.svg [npm-url]: https://npmjs.org/package/buffer [downloads-image]: https://img.shields.io/npm/dm/buffer.svg [downloads-url]: https://npmjs.org/package/buffer [standard-image]: https://img.shields.io/badge/code_style-standard-brightgreen.svg [standard-url]: https://standardjs.com #### The buffer module from [node.js](https://nodejs.org/), for the browser. [![saucelabs][saucelabs-image]][saucelabs-url] [saucelabs-image]: https://saucelabs.com/browser-matrix/buffer.svg [saucelabs-url]: https://saucelabs.com/u/buffer With [browserify](http://browserify.org), 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](https://nodejs.org/api/buffer.html). Read the [official docs](https://nodejs.org/api/buffer.html) for the full list of properties, instance methods, and class methods that are supported. ## features - Manipulate binary data like a boss, in all browsers! - Super fast. Backed by Typed Arrays (`Uint8Array`/`ArrayBuffer`, not `Object`) - Extremely small bundle size (**6.75KB minified + gzipped**, 51.9KB with comments) - Excellent browser support (Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Safari 9+, IE 11, iOS 9+, Android, etc.) - Preserves Node API exactly, with one minor difference (see below) - Square-bracket `buf[4]` notation works! - Does not modify any browser prototypes or put anything on `window` - Comprehensive test suite (including all buffer tests from node.js core) ## install To use this module directly (without browserify), install it: ```bash npm install buffer ``` This module was previously called **native-buffer-browserify**, but please use **buffer** from now on. If you do not use a bundler, you can use the [standalone script](https://bundle.run/buffer). ## usage The module's API is identical to node's `Buffer` API. Read the [official docs](https://nodejs.org/api/buffer.html) 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](http://browserify.org) 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: ```js 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`! ## how does it work? The Buffer constructor returns instances of `Uint8Array` that have their prototype changed to `Buffer.prototype`. Furthermore, `Buffer` is a subclass of `Uint8Array`, so the returned instances will have all the node `Buffer` methods and the `Uint8Array` methods. Square bracket notation works as expected -- it returns a single octet. The `Uint8Array` prototype remains unmodified. ## tracking the latest node api 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](https://nodejs.org/docs/latest/api/documentation.html#documentation_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. ## related packages - [`buffer-reverse`](https://www.npmjs.com/package/buffer-reverse) - Reverse a buffer - [`buffer-xor`](https://www.npmjs.com/package/buffer-xor) - Bitwise xor a buffer - [`is-buffer`](https://www.npmjs.com/package/is-buffer) - Determine if an object is a Buffer without including the whole `Buffer` package ## conversion packages ### convert typed array to buffer Use [`typedarray-to-buffer`](https://www.npmjs.com/package/typedarray-to-buffer) to convert any kind of typed array to a `Buffer`. Does not perform a copy, so it's super fast. ### convert buffer to typed array `Buffer` is a subclass of `Uint8Array` (which is a typed array). So there is no need to explicitly convert to typed array. Just use the buffer as a `Uint8Array`. ### convert blob to buffer Use [`blob-to-buffer`](https://www.npmjs.com/package/blob-to-buffer) to convert a `Blob` to a `Buffer`. ### convert buffer to blob To convert a `Buffer` to a `Blob`, use the `Blob` constructor: ```js var blob = new Blob([ buffer ]) ``` Optionally, specify a mimetype: ```js var blob = new Blob([ buffer ], { type: 'text/html' }) ``` ### convert arraybuffer to buffer To convert an `ArrayBuffer` to a `Buffer`, use the `Buffer.from` function. Does not perform a copy, so it's super fast. ```js var buffer = Buffer.from(arrayBuffer) ``` ### convert buffer to arraybuffer To convert a `Buffer` to an `ArrayBuffer`, use the `.buffer` property (which is present on all `Uint8Array` objects): ```js var arrayBuffer = buffer.buffer.slice( buffer.byteOffset, buffer.byteOffset + buffer.byteLength ) ``` Alternatively, use the [`to-arraybuffer`](https://www.npmjs.com/package/to-arraybuffer) module. ## performance 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. NOTE: Performance has improved since these benchmarks were taken. PR welcome to update the README. ### Chrome 38 | 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 | ✓ | ### Firefox 33 | 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 | ✓ | ### Safari 8 | 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 | ✓ | ### Node 0.11.14 | 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 | | ### iojs 1.8.1 | 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 | | | | | | | ## Testing the project First, install the project: npm install Then, to run tests in Node.js, run: npm run test-node To test locally in a browser, you can run: npm run test-browser-es5-local # For ES5 browsers that don't support ES6 npm run test-browser-es6-local # For ES6 compliant browsers This will print out a URL that you can then open in a browser to run the tests, using [airtap](https://www.npmjs.com/package/airtap). To run automated browser tests using Saucelabs, ensure that your `SAUCE_USERNAME` and `SAUCE_ACCESS_KEY` environment variables are set, then run: npm test This is what's run in Travis, to check against various browsers. The list of browsers is kept in the `bin/airtap-es5.yml` and `bin/airtap-es6.yml` files. ## JavaScript Standard Style This module uses [JavaScript Standard Style](https://github.com/feross/standard). [![JavaScript Style Guide](https://cdn.rawgit.com/feross/standard/master/badge.svg)](https://github.com/feross/standard) To test that the code conforms to the style, `npm install` and run: ./node_modules/.bin/standard ## credit This was originally forked from [buffer-browserify](https://github.com/toots/buffer-browserify). ## Security Policies and Procedures The `buffer` team and community take all security bugs in `buffer` seriously. Please see our [security policies and procedures](https://github.com/feross/security) document to learn how to report issues. ## license MIT. Copyright (C) [Feross Aboukhadijeh](http://feross.org), and other contributors. Originally forked from an MIT-licensed module by Romain Beauxis.