| # buffer [![travis][travis-image]][travis-url] [![npm][npm-image]][npm-url] [![downloads][downloads-image]][npm-url] |
| |
| #### The buffer module from [node.js](https://nodejs.org/), for the browser. |
| |
| [![saucelabs][saucelabs-image]][saucelabs-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 |
| [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 -- even IE6! |
| - Super fast. Backed by Typed Arrays (`Uint8Array`/`ArrayBuffer`, not `Object`) |
| - Extremely small bundle size (**5.04KB minified + gzipped**, 35.5KB with comments) |
| - Excellent browser support (IE 6+, Chrome 4+, Firefox 3+, Safari 5.1+, Opera 11+, iOS, etc.) |
| - Preserves Node API exactly, with one minor difference (see below) |
| - Square-bracket `buf[4]` notation works, even in old browsers like IE6! |
| - 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. |
| |
| A standalone bundle is available [here](https://wzrd.in/standalone/buffer), for non-browserify users. |
| |
| |
| ## 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. |
| |
| |
| ## one minor difference |
| |
| #### In old browsers, `buf.slice()` does not modify parent buffer's memory |
| |
| If 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.](https://nodejs.org/api/buffer.html#buffer_buf_slice_start_end) |
| |
| 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](https://github.com/feross/buffer/blob/master/index.js#L22-L48). |
| |
| |
| ## 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-equals`](https://www.npmjs.com/package/buffer-equals) - Node.js 0.12 buffer.equals() ponyfill |
| - [`buffer-reverse`](https://www.npmjs.com/package/buffer-reverse) - A lite module for reverse-operations on buffers |
| - [`buffer-xor`](https://www.npmjs.com/package/buffer-xor) - A simple module for bitwise-xor on buffers |
| - [`is-buffer`](https://www.npmjs.com/package/is-buffer) - Determine if an object is a Buffer without including the whole `Buffer` package |
| - [`typedarray-to-buffer`](https://www.npmjs.com/package/typedarray-to-buffer) - Convert a typed array to a Buffer without a copy |
| |
| ## 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 welcoem 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-local |
| |
| This will print out a URL that you can then open in a browser to run the tests, using [Zuul](https://github.com/defunctzombie/zuul). |
| |
| 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 `.zuul.yml` file. |
| |
| ## JavaScript Standard Style |
| |
| This module uses [JavaScript Standard Style](https://github.com/feross/standard). |
| |
| [](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). |
| |
| |
| ## license |
| |
| MIT. Copyright (C) [Feross Aboukhadijeh](http://feross.org), and other contributors. Originally forked from an MIT-licensed module by Romain Beauxis. |