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# Buffer#

Stability: 2 - Stable

Prior to the introduction of `TypedArray`, the JavaScript language had no mechanism for reading or manipulating streams of binary data. The `Buffer` class was introduced as part of the Node.js API to enable interaction with octet streams in TCP streams, file system operations, and other contexts.

With `TypedArray` now available, the `Buffer` class implements the `Uint8Array` API in a manner that is more optimized and suitable for Node.js.

Instances of the `Buffer` class are similar to arrays of integers but correspond to fixed-sized, raw memory allocations outside the V8 heap. The size of the `Buffer` is established when it is created and cannot be changed.

The `Buffer` class is within the global scope, making it unlikely that one would need to ever use `require('buffer').Buffer`.

    // Creates a zero-filled Buffer of length 10.
    const buf1 = Buffer.alloc(10);

    // Creates a Buffer of length 10, filled with 0x1.
    const buf2 = Buffer.alloc(10, 1);

    // Creates an uninitialized buffer of length 10.
    // This is faster than calling Buffer.alloc() but the returned
    // Buffer instance might contain old data that needs to be
    // overwritten using either fill() or write().
    const buf3 = Buffer.allocUnsafe(10);

    // Creates a Buffer containing [0x1, 0x2, 0x3].
    const buf4 = Buffer.from([1, 2, 3]);

    // Creates a Buffer containing UTF-8 bytes [0x74, 0xc3, 0xa9, 0x73, 0x74].
    const buf5 = Buffer.from('tést');

    // Creates a Buffer containing Latin-1 bytes [0x74, 0xe9, 0x73, 0x74].
    const buf6 = Buffer.from('tést', 'latin1');

## `Buffer.from()`, `Buffer.alloc()`, and `Buffer.allocUnsafe()`#

In versions of Node.js prior to 6.0.0, `Buffer` instances were created using the `Buffer` constructor function, which allocates the returned `Buffer` differently based on what arguments are provided:

- Passing a number as the first argument to `Buffer()` (e.g. `new Buffer(10)`) allocates a new `Buffer` object of the specified size. Prior to Node.js 8.0.0, the memory allocated for such `Buffer` instances is not initialized and can contain sensitive data. Such `Buffer` instances must be subsequently initialized by using either `buf.fill(0)` or by writing to the entire `Buffer`. While this behavior is intentional to improve performance, development experience has demonstrated that a more explicit distinction is required between creating a fast-but-uninitialized `Buffer` versus creating a slower-but-safer `Buffer`. Starting in Node.js 8.0.0, `Buffer(num)` and `new Buffer(num)` will return a `Buffer` with initialized memory.
- Passing a string, array, or `Buffer` as the first argument copies the passed object's data into the `Buffer`.
- Passing an `ArrayBuffer` or a `SharedArrayBuffer` returns a `Buffer` that shares allocated memory with the given array buffer.

Because the behavior of `new Buffer()` is different depending on the type of the first argument, security and reliability issues can be inadvertently introduced into applications when argument validation or `Buffer` initialization is not performed.

To make the creation of `Buffer` instances more reliable and less error-prone, the various forms of the `new Buffer()` constructor have been deprecated and replaced by separate `Buffer.from()`, `Buffer.alloc()`, and `Buffer.allocUnsafe()` methods.

Developers should migrate all existing uses of the `new Buffer()` constructors to one of these new APIs.

- `Buffer.from(array)` returns a new `Buffer` that contains a copy of the provided octets.
- `Buffer.from(arrayBuffer[, byteOffset[, length]])` returns a new `Buffer` that shares the same allocated memory as the given `ArrayBuffer`.
- `Buffer.from(buffer)` returns a new `Buffer` that contains a copy of the contents of the given `Buffer`.
- `Buffer.from(string[, encoding])` returns a new `Buffer` that contains a copy of the provided string.
- `Buffer.alloc(size[, fill[, encoding]])` returns a new initialized `Buffer` of the specified size. This method is slower than `Buffer.allocUnsafe(size)` but guarantees that newly created `Buffer` instances never contain old data that is potentially sensitive.
- `Buffer.allocUnsafe(size)` and `Buffer.allocUnsafeSlow(size)` each return a new uninitialized `Buffer` of the specified `size`. Because the `Buffer` is uninitialized, the allocated segment of memory might contain old data that is potentially sensitive.

`Buffer` instances returned by `Buffer.allocUnsafe()` may be allocated off a shared internal memory pool if `size` is less than or equal to half `Buffer.poolSize`. Instances returned by `Buffer.allocUnsafeSlow()` never use the shared internal memory pool.

### The `--zero-fill-buffers` command line option#

Added in: v5.10.0

Node.js can be started using the `--zero-fill-buffers` command line option to cause all newly allocated `Buffer` instances to be zero-filled upon creation by default, including buffers returned by `new Buffer(size)`, `Buffer.allocUnsafe()`, `Buffer.allocUnsafeSlow()`, and `new SlowBuffer(size)`. Use of this flag can have a significant negative impact on performance. Use of the `--zero-fill-buffers` option is recommended only when necessary to enforce that newly allocated `Buffer` instances cannot contain old data that is potentially sensitive.

    $ node --zero-fill-buffers
    > Buffer.allocUnsafe(5);
    <Buffer 00 00 00 00 00>

### What makes `Buffer.allocUnsafe()` and `Buffer.allocUnsafeSlow()` "unsafe"?#

When calling `Buffer.allocUnsafe()` and `Buffer.allocUnsafeSlow()`, the segment of allocated memory is uninitialized (it is not zeroed-out). While this design makes the allocation of memory quite fast, the allocated segment of memory might contain old data that is potentially sensitive. Using a `Buffer` created by `Buffer.allocUnsafe()` without completely overwriting the memory can allow this old data to be leaked when the `Buffer` memory is read.

While there are clear performance advantages to using `Buffer.allocUnsafe()`, extra care must be taken in order to avoid introducing security vulnerabilities into an application.

## Buffers and Character Encodings#

History

Version | Changes
--- | ---
v6.4.0 | Introduced `latin1` as an alias for `binary`.
v5.0.0 | Removed the deprecated `raw` and `raws` encodings.

When string data is stored in or extracted out of a `Buffer` instance, a character encoding may be specified.

    const buf = Buffer.from('hello world', 'ascii');

    console.log(buf.toString('hex'));
    // Prints: 68656c6c6f20776f726c64
    console.log(buf.toString('base64'));
    // Prints: aGVsbG8gd29ybGQ=

    console.log(Buffer.from('fhqwhgads', 'ascii'));
    // Prints: <Buffer 66 68 71 77 68 67 61 64 73>
    console.log(Buffer.from('fhqwhgads', 'utf16le'));
    // Prints: <Buffer 66 00 68 00 71 00 77 00 68 00 67 00 61 00 64 00 73 00>

The character encodings currently supported by Node.js include:

- `'ascii'` - For 7-bit ASCII data only. This encoding is fast and will strip the high bit if set.

- `'utf8'` - Multibyte encoded Unicode characters. Many web pages and other document formats use UTF-8.

- `'utf16le'` - 2 or 4 bytes, little-endian encoded Unicode characters. Surrogate pairs (U+10000 to U+10FFFF) are supported.

- `'ucs2'` - Alias of `'utf16le'`.

- `'base64'` - Base64 encoding. When creating a `Buffer` from a string, this encoding will also correctly accept "URL and Filename Safe Alphabet" as specified in RFC 4648, Section 5.

- `'latin1'` - A way of encoding the `Buffer` into a one-byte encoded string (as defined by the IANA in RFC 1345, page 63, to be the Latin-1 supplement block and C0/C1 control codes).

- `'binary'` - Alias for `'latin1'`.

- `'hex'` - Encode each byte as two hexadecimal characters.

Modern Web browsers follow the WHATWG Encoding Standard which aliases both `'latin1'` and `'ISO-8859-1'` to `'win-1252'`. This means that while doing something like `http.get()`, if the returned charset is one of those listed in the WHATWG specification it is possible that the server actually returned `'win-1252'`-encoded data, and using `'latin1'` encoding may incorrectly decode the characters.

## Buffers and TypedArray#

History

Version | Changes
--- | ---
v3.0.0 | The `Buffer`s class now inherits from `Uint8Array`.

`Buffer` instances are also `Uint8Array` instances. However, there are subtle incompatibilities with `TypedArray`. For example, while `ArrayBuffer#slice()` creates a copy of the slice, the implementation of `Buffer#slice()` creates a view over the existing `Buffer` without copying, making `Buffer#slice()` far more efficient.

It is also possible to create new `TypedArray` instances from a `Buffer` with the following caveats:

1. The `Buffer` object's memory is copied to the `TypedArray`, not shared.

2. The `Buffer` object's memory is interpreted as an array of distinct elements, and not as a byte array of the target type. That is, `new Uint32Array(Buffer.from([1, 2, 3, 4]))` creates a 4-element `Uint32Array` with elements `[1, 2, 3, 4]`, not a `Uint32Array` with a single element `[0x1020304]` or `[0x4030201]`.

It is possible to create a new `Buffer` that shares the same allocated memory as a `TypedArray` instance by using the `TypedArray` object's `.buffer` property.

    const arr = new Uint16Array(2);

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

    // Copies the contents of `arr`
    const buf1 = Buffer.from(arr);
    // Shares memory with `arr`
    const buf2 = Buffer.from(arr.buffer);

    console.log(buf1);
    // Prints: <Buffer 88 a0>
    console.log(buf2);
    // Prints: <Buffer 88 13 a0 0f>

    arr[1] = 6000;

    console.log(buf1);
    // Prints: <Buffer 88 a0>
    console.log(buf2);
    // Prints: <Buffer 88 13 70 17>

Note that when creating a `Buffer` using a `TypedArray`'s `.buffer`, it is possible to use only a portion of the underlying `ArrayBuffer` by passing in `byteOffset` and `length` parameters.

    const arr = new Uint16Array(20);
    const buf = Buffer.from(arr.buffer, 0, 16);

    console.log(buf.length);
    // Prints: 16

The `Buffer.from()` and `TypedArray.from()` have different signatures and implementations. Specifically, the `TypedArray` variants accept a second argument that is a mapping function that is invoked on every element of the typed array:

- `TypedArray.from(source[, mapFn[, thisArg]])`

The `Buffer.from()` method, however, does not support the use of a mapping function:

- `Buffer.from(array)`
- `Buffer.from(buffer)`
- `Buffer.from(arrayBuffer[, byteOffset[, length]])`
- `Buffer.from(string[, encoding])`

## Buffers and iteration#

`Buffer` instances can be iterated over using `for..of` syntax:

    const buf = Buffer.from([1, 2, 3]);

    // Prints:
    //   1
    //   2
    //   3
    for (const b of buf) {
      console.log(b);
    }

Additionally, the `buf.values()`, `buf.keys()`, and `buf.entries()` methods can be used to create iterators.

## Class: Buffer#

The `Buffer` class is a global type for dealing with binary data directly. It can be constructed in a variety of ways.

### new Buffer(array)#

History

Version | Changes
--- | ---
v10.0.0 | Calling this constructor emits a deprecation warning when run from code outside the `node_modules` directory.
v7.2.1 | Calling this constructor no longer emits a deprecation warning.
v7.0.0 | Calling this constructor emits a deprecation warning now.
v6.0.0 | Deprecated since: v6.0.0

Stability: 0 - Deprecated: Use `Buffer.from(array)` instead.

- `array` <integer[]> An array of bytes to copy from.

Allocates a new `Buffer` using an `array` of octets.

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

### new Buffer(arrayBuffer[, byteOffset[, length]])#

History

Version | Changes
--- | ---
v10.0.0 | Calling this constructor emits a deprecation warning when run from code outside the `node_modules` directory.
v7.2.1 | Calling this constructor no longer emits a deprecation warning.
v7.0.0 | Calling this constructor emits a deprecation warning now.
v6.0.0 | The `byteOffset` and `length` parameters are supported now.
v6.0.0 | Deprecated since: v6.0.0
v3.0.0 | Added in: v3.0.0

Stability: 0 - Deprecated: Use `Buffer.from(arrayBuffer[, byteOffset[, length]])` instead.

- `arrayBuffer` <ArrayBuffer> | <SharedArrayBuffer> An `ArrayBuffer`, `SharedArrayBuffer` or 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.length - byteOffset`.

This creates a view of the `ArrayBuffer` or `SharedArrayBuffer` 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`.

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

    const arr = new Uint16Array(2);

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

    // Shares memory with `arr`
    const buf = new Buffer(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>

### new Buffer(buffer)#

History

Version | Changes
--- | ---
v10.0.0 | Calling this constructor emits a deprecation warning when run from code outside the `node_modules` directory.
v7.2.1 | Calling this constructor no longer emits a deprecation warning.
v7.0.0 | Calling this constructor emits a deprecation warning now.
v6.0.0 | Deprecated since: v6.0.0

Stability: 0 - Deprecated: Use `Buffer.from(buffer)` instead.

- `buffer` <Buffer> | <Uint8Array> An existing `Buffer` or `Uint8Array` from which to copy data.

Copies the passed `buffer` data onto a new `Buffer` instance.

    const buf1 = new Buffer('buffer');
    const buf2 = new Buffer(buf1);

    buf1[0] = 0x61;

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

### new Buffer(size)#

History

Version | Changes
--- | ---
v10.0.0 | Calling this constructor emits a deprecation warning when run from code outside the `node_modules` directory.
v8.0.0 | The `new Buffer(size)` will return zero-filled memory by default.
v7.2.1 | Calling this constructor no longer emits a deprecation warning.
v7.0.0 | Calling this constructor emits a deprecation warning now.
v6.0.0 | Deprecated since: v6.0.0

Stability: 0 - Deprecated: Use `Buffer.alloc()` instead (also see `Buffer.allocUnsafe()`).

- `size` <integer> The desired length of the new `Buffer`.

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

Prior to Node.js 8.0.0, the underlying memory for `Buffer` instances created in this way is not initialized. The contents of a newly created `Buffer` are unknown and may contain sensitive data. Use `Buffer.alloc(size)` instead to initialize a `Buffer` with zeroes.

    const buf = new Buffer(10);

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

### new Buffer(string[, encoding])#

History

Version | Changes
--- | ---
v10.0.0 | Calling this constructor emits a deprecation warning when run from code outside the `node_modules` directory.
v7.2.1 | Calling this constructor no longer emits a deprecation warning.
v7.0.0 | Calling this constructor emits a deprecation warning now.
v6.0.0 | Deprecated since: v6.0.0

Stability: 0 - Deprecated: Use `Buffer.from(string[, encoding])` instead.

- `string` <string> String to encode.
- `encoding` <string> The encoding of `string`. Default: `'utf8'`.

Creates a new `Buffer` containing `string`. The `encoding` parameter identifies the character encoding of `string`.

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

    console.log(buf1.toString());
    // Prints: this is a tést
    console.log(buf2.toString());
    // Prints: this is a tést
    console.log(buf1.toString('ascii'));
    // Prints: this is a tC)st

### Class Method: Buffer.alloc(size[, fill[, encoding]])[src]#

History

Version | Changes
--- | ---
v10.0.0 | Attempting to fill a non-zero length buffer with a zero length buffer triggers a thrown exception.
v10.0.0 | Specifying an invalid string for `fill` triggers a thrown exception.
v8.9.3 | Specifying an invalid string for `fill` now results in a zero-filled buffer.
v5.10.0 | Added in: v5.10.0

- `size` <integer> The desired length of the new `Buffer`.
- `fill` <string> | <Buffer> | <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'`.

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

    const buf = Buffer.alloc(5);

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Calling `Buffer.alloc()` can be significantly slower than the alternative `Buffer.allocUnsafe()` but ensures that the newly created `Buffer` instance contents will never contain sensitive data.

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

### Class Method: Buffer.allocUnsafe(size)[src]#

History

Version | Changes
--- | ---
v7.0.0 | Passing a negative `size` will now throw an error.
v5.10.0 | Added in: v5.10.0

- `size` <integer> The desired length of the new `Buffer`.

Allocates a new `Buffer` of `size` bytes. If `size` is larger than `buffer.constants.MAX_LENGTH` or smaller than 0, `ERR_INVALID_OPT_VALUE` 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 `Buffer.alloc()` instead to initialize `Buffer` instances with zeroes.

    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>

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

Note that 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()` and the deprecated `new Buffer(size)` constructor only when `size` is less than or equal to `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.

### Class Method: Buffer.allocUnsafeSlow(size)[src]#

Added in: v5.12.0

- `size` <integer> The desired length of the new `Buffer`.

Allocates a new `Buffer` of `size` bytes. If `size` is larger than `buffer.constants.MAX_LENGTH` or smaller than 0, `ERR_INVALID_OPT_VALUE` 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 under 4KB 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 persistent 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.

    // 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);
      }
    });

`Buffer.allocUnsafeSlow()` should be used only as a last resort after a developer has observed undue memory retention in their applications.

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

### Class Method: Buffer.byteLength(string[, encoding])[src]#

History

Version | Changes
--- | ---
v7.0.0 | Passing invalid input will now throw an error.
v5.10.0 | The `string` parameter can now be any `TypedArray`, `DataView` or `ArrayBuffer`.
v0.1.90 | Added in: v0.1.90

- `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 actual byte length of a string. This is not the same as `String.prototype.length` since that returns the number of characters in a string.

For `'base64'` 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.

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

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

When `string` is a `Buffer`/`DataView`/`TypedArray`/`ArrayBuffer`/ `SharedArrayBuffer`, the actual byte length is returned.

### Class Method: Buffer.compare(buf1, buf2)[src]#

History

Version | Changes
--- | ---
v8.0.0 | The arguments can now be `Uint8Array`s.
v0.11.13 | Added in: v0.11.13

- `buf1` <Buffer> | <Uint8Array>
- `buf2` <Buffer> | <Uint8Array>
- Returns: <integer>

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

    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])

### Class Method: Buffer.concat(list[, totalLength])[src]#

History

Version | Changes
--- | ---
v8.0.0 | The elements of `list` can now be `Uint8Array`s.
v0.7.11 | Added in: v0.7.11

- `list` <Buffer[]> | <Uint8Array[]> List of `Buffer` or `Uint8Array` instances to concat.
- `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`. This however causes an additional loop to be executed in order to calculate the `totalLength`, so it is faster to provide the length explicitly if it is already known.

If `totalLength` is provided, it is coerced to an unsigned integer. If the combined length of the `Buffer`s in `list` exceeds `totalLength`, the result is truncated to `totalLength`.

    // 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: 42

### Class Method: Buffer.from(array)[src]#

Added in: v5.10.0

- `array` <integer[]>

Allocates a new `Buffer` using an `array` of octets.

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

A `TypeError` will be thrown if `array` is not an `Array`.

### Class Method: Buffer.from(arrayBuffer[, byteOffset[, length]])[src]#

Added in: v5.10.0

- `arrayBuffer` <ArrayBuffer> | <SharedArrayBuffer> An `ArrayBuffer`, `SharedArrayBuffer`, or 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.length - byteOffset`.

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`.

    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>

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

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

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

A `TypeError` will be thrown if `arrayBuffer` is not an `ArrayBuffer` or a `SharedArrayBuffer`.

### Class Method: Buffer.from(buffer)[src]#

Added in: v5.10.0

- `buffer` <Buffer> | <Uint8Array> An existing `Buffer` or `Uint8Array` from which to copy data.

Copies the passed `buffer` data onto a new `Buffer` instance.

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

    buf1[0] = 0x61;

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

A `TypeError` will be thrown if `buffer` is not a `Buffer`.

### Class Method: Buffer.from(object[, offsetOrEncoding[, length]])[src]#

Added in: v8.2.0

- `object` <Object> An object supporting `Symbol.toPrimitive` or `valueOf()`
- `offsetOrEncoding` <number> | <string> A byte-offset or encoding, depending on the value returned either by `object.valueOf()` or `object[Symbol.toPrimitive]()`.
- `length` <number> A length, depending on the value returned either by `object.valueOf()` or `object[Symbol.toPrimitive]()`.

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

    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>

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

    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>

### Class Method: Buffer.from(string[, encoding])[src]#

Added in: v5.10.0

- `string` <string> A string to encode.
- `encoding` <string> The encoding of `string`. Default: `'utf8'`.

Creates a new `Buffer` containing `string`. The `encoding` parameter identifies the character encoding of `string`.

    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('ascii'));
    // Prints: this is a tC)st

A `TypeError` will be thrown if `string` is not a string.

### Class Method: Buffer.isBuffer(obj)[src]#

Added in: v0.1.101

- `obj` <Object>
- Returns: <boolean>

Returns `true` if `obj` is a `Buffer`, `false` otherwise.

### Class Method: Buffer.isEncoding(encoding)[src]#

Added in: v0.9.1

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

Returns `true` if `encoding` contains a supported character encoding, or `false` otherwise.

### Class Property: Buffer.poolSize[src]#

Added in: v0.11.3

- <integer> Default: `8192`

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

### buf[index]#

The index operator `[index]` can be used to get and set the octet at position `index` in `buf`. The values refer to individual bytes, so the legal value range is between `0x00` and `0xFF` (hex) or `0` and `255` (decimal).

This operator is inherited from `Uint8Array`, so its behavior on out-of-bounds access is the same as `UInt8Array` - that is, getting returns `undefined` and setting does nothing.

    // Copy an ASCII string into a `Buffer` one byte at a time.

    const str = 'Node.js';
    const buf = Buffer.allocUnsafe(str.length);

    for (let i = 0; i < str.length; i++) {
      buf[i] = str.charCodeAt(i);
    }

    console.log(buf.toString('ascii'));
    // Prints: Node.js

### buf.buffer#

- <ArrayBuffer> The underlying `ArrayBuffer` object based on which this `Buffer` object is created.

    const arrayBuffer = new ArrayBuffer(16);
    const buffer = Buffer.from(arrayBuffer);

    console.log(buffer.buffer === arrayBuffer);
    // Prints: true

### buf.byteOffset#

- <integer> The `byteOffset` on the underlying `ArrayBuffer` object based on which this `Buffer` object is created.

When setting `byteOffset` in `Buffer.from(ArrayBuffer, byteOffset, length)` or sometimes when allocating a buffer smaller than `Buffer.poolSize` the buffer doesn't start from a zero offset on the underlying `ArrayBuffer`.

This can cause problems when accessing the underlying `ArrayBuffer` directly using `buf.buffer`, as the first bytes in this `ArrayBuffer` may be unrelated to the `buf` object itself.

A common issue is when casting a `Buffer` object to a `TypedArray` object, in this case one needs to specify the `byteOffset` correctly:

    // Create a buffer smaller than `Buffer.poolSize`.
    const nodeBuffer = new Buffer.from([0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9]);

    // When casting the Node.js Buffer to an Int8 TypedArray remember to use the
    // byteOffset.
    new Int8Array(nodeBuffer.buffer, nodeBuffer.byteOffset, nodeBuffer.length);

### buf.compare(target[, targetStart[, targetEnd[, sourceStart[, sourceEnd]]]])[src]#

History

Version | Changes
--- | ---
v8.0.0 | The `target` parameter can now be a `Uint8Array`.
v5.11.0 | Additional parameters for specifying offsets are supported now.
v0.11.13 | Added in: v0.11.13

- `target` <Buffer> | <Uint8Array> A `Buffer` or `Uint8Array` with which to compare `buf`.
- `targetStart` <integer> The offset within `target` at which to begin comparison. Default: `0`.
- `targetEnd` <integer> The offset with `target` at which to end comparison (not inclusive). Default: `target.length`.
- `sourceStart` <integer> The offset within `buf` at which to begin comparison. Default: `0`.
- `sourceEnd` <integer> The offset within `buf` at which to end comparison (not inclusive). Default: `buf.length`.
- Returns: <integer>

Compares `buf` with `target` and returns a number indicating whether `buf` comes before, after, or is the same as `target` in sort order. Comparison is based on the actual sequence of bytes in each `Buffer`.

- `0` is returned if `target` is the same as `buf`
- `1` is returned if `target` should come before `buf` when sorted.
- `-1` is returned if `target` should come after `buf` when sorted.

    const buf1 = Buffer.from('ABC');
    const buf2 = Buffer.from('BCD');
    const buf3 = Buffer.from('ABCD');

    console.log(buf1.compare(buf1));
    // Prints: 0
    console.log(buf1.compare(buf2));
    // Prints: -1
    console.log(buf1.compare(buf3));
    // Prints: -1
    console.log(buf2.compare(buf1));
    // Prints: 1
    console.log(buf2.compare(buf3));
    // Prints: 1
    console.log([buf1, buf2, buf3].sort(Buffer.compare));
    // Prints: [ <Buffer 41 42 43>, <Buffer 41 42 43 44>, <Buffer 42 43 44> ]
    // (This result is equal to: [buf1, buf3, buf2])

The optional `targetStart`, `targetEnd`, `sourceStart`, and `sourceEnd` arguments can be used to limit the comparison to specific ranges within `target` and `buf` respectively.

    const buf1 = Buffer.from([1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9]);
    const buf2 = Buffer.from([5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 1, 2, 3, 4]);

    console.log(buf1.compare(buf2, 5, 9, 0, 4));
    // Prints: 0
    console.log(buf1.compare(buf2, 0, 6, 4));
    // Prints: -1
    console.log(buf1.compare(buf2, 5, 6, 5));
    // Prints: 1

`ERR_OUT_OF_RANGE` is thrown if `targetStart < 0`, `sourceStart < 0`, `targetEnd > target.byteLength`, or `sourceEnd > source.byteLength`.

### buf.copy(target[, targetStart[, sourceStart[, sourceEnd]]])[src]#

Added in: v0.1.90

- `target` <Buffer> | <Uint8Array> A `Buffer` or `Uint8Array` to copy into.
- `targetStart` <integer> The offset within `target` at which to begin writing. Default: `0`.
- `sourceStart` <integer> The offset within `buf` from which to begin copying. Default: `0`.
- `sourceEnd` <integer> The offset within `buf` at which to stop copying (not inclusive). Default: `buf.length`.
- Returns: <integer> The number of bytes copied.

Copies data from a region of `buf` to a region in `target` even if the `target` memory region overlaps with `buf`.

    // Create two `Buffer` instances.
    const buf1 = Buffer.allocUnsafe(26);
    const buf2 = Buffer.allocUnsafe(26).fill('!');

    for (let i = 0; i < 26; i++) {
      // 97 is the decimal ASCII value for 'a'
      buf1[i] = i + 97;
    }

    // Copy `buf1` bytes 16 through 19 into `buf2` starting at byte 8 of `buf2`
    buf1.copy(buf2, 8, 16, 20);

    console.log(buf2.toString('ascii', 0, 25));
    // Prints: !!!!!!!!qrst!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    // Create a `Buffer` and copy data from one region to an overlapping region
    // within the same `Buffer`.

    const buf = Buffer.allocUnsafe(26);

    for (let i = 0; i < 26; i++) {
      // 97 is the decimal ASCII value for 'a'
      buf[i] = i + 97;
    }

    buf.copy(buf, 0, 4, 10);

    console.log(buf.toString());
    // Prints: efghijghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz

### buf.entries()#

Added in: v1.1.0

- Returns: <Iterator>

Creates and returns an iterator of `[index, byte]` pairs from the contents of `buf`.

    // Log the entire contents of a `Buffer`.

    const buf = Buffer.from('buffer');

    for (const pair of buf.entries()) {
      console.log(pair);
    }
    // Prints:
    //   [0, 98]
    //   [1, 117]
    //   [2, 102]
    //   [3, 102]
    //   [4, 101]
    //   [5, 114]

### buf.equals(otherBuffer)[src]#

History

Version | Changes
--- | ---
v8.0.0 | The arguments can now be `Uint8Array`s.
v0.11.13 | Added in: v0.11.13

- `otherBuffer` <Buffer> A `Buffer` or `Uint8Array` with which to compare `buf`.
- Returns: <boolean>

Returns `true` if both `buf` and `otherBuffer` have exactly the same bytes, `false` otherwise.

    const buf1 = Buffer.from('ABC');
    const buf2 = Buffer.from('414243', 'hex');
    const buf3 = Buffer.from('ABCD');

    console.log(buf1.equals(buf2));
    // Prints: true
    console.log(buf1.equals(buf3));
    // Prints: false

### buf.fill(value[, offset[, end]][, encoding])[src]#

History

Version | Changes
--- | ---
v11.0.0 | Throws `ERR_OUT_OF_RANGE` instead of `ERR_INDEX_OUT_OF_RANGE`.
v10.0.0 | Negative `end` values throw an `ERR_INDEX_OUT_OF_RANGE` error.
v10.0.0 | Attempting to fill a non-zero length buffer with a zero length buffer triggers a thrown exception.
v10.0.0 | Specifying an invalid string for `value` triggers a thrown exception.
v5.7.0 | The `encoding` parameter is supported now.
v0.5.0 | Added in: v0.5.0

- `value` <string> | <Buffer> | <integer> The value with which to fill `buf`.
- `offset` <integer> Number of bytes to skip before starting to fill `buf`. Default: `0`.
- `end` <integer> Where to stop filling `buf` (not inclusive). Default: `buf.length`.
- `encoding` <string> The encoding for `value` if `value` is a string. Default: `'utf8'`.
- Returns: <Buffer> A reference to `buf`.

Fills `buf` with the specified `value`. If the `offset` and `end` are not given, the entire `buf` will be filled:

    // Fill a `Buffer` with the ASCII character 'h'.

    const b = Buffer.allocUnsafe(50).fill('h');

    console.log(b.toString());
    // Prints: hhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

`value` is coerced to a `uint32` value if it is not a string, `Buffer`, or integer. If the resulting integer is greater than `255` (decimal), `buf` will be filled with `value & 255`.

If the final write of a `fill()` operation falls on a multi-byte character, then only the bytes of that character that fit into `buf` are written:

    // Fill a `Buffer` with a two-byte character.

    console.log(Buffer.allocUnsafe(3).fill('\u0222'));
    // Prints: <Buffer c8 a2 c8>

If `value` contains invalid characters, it is truncated; if no valid fill data remains, an exception is thrown:

    const buf = Buffer.allocUnsafe(5);

    console.log(buf.fill('a'));
    // Prints: <Buffer 61 61 61 61 61>
    console.log(buf.fill('aazz', 'hex'));
    // Prints: <Buffer aa aa aa aa aa>
    console.log(buf.fill('zz', 'hex'));
    // Throws an exception.

### buf.includes(value[, byteOffset][, encoding])[src]#

Added in: v5.3.0

- `value` <string> | <Buffer> | <integer> What to search for.
- `byteOffset` <integer> Where to begin searching in `buf`. Default: `0`.
- `encoding` <string> If `value` is a string, this is its encoding. Default: `'utf8'`.
- Returns: <boolean> `true` if `value` was found in `buf`, `false` otherwise.

Equivalent to `buf.indexOf() !== -1`.

    const buf = Buffer.from('this is a buffer');

    console.log(buf.includes('this'));
    // Prints: true
    console.log(buf.includes('is'));
    // Prints: true
    console.log(buf.includes(Buffer.from('a buffer')));
    // Prints: true
    console.log(buf.includes(97));
    // Prints: true (97 is the decimal ASCII value for 'a')
    console.log(buf.includes(Buffer.from('a buffer example')));
    // Prints: false
    console.log(buf.includes(Buffer.from('a buffer example').slice(0, 8)));
    // Prints: true
    console.log(buf.includes('this', 4));
    // Prints: false

### buf.indexOf(value[, byteOffset][, encoding])[src]#

History

Version | Changes
--- | ---
v8.0.0 | The `value` can now be a `Uint8Array`.
v5.7.0, v4.4.0 | When `encoding` is being passed, the `byteOffset` parameter is no longer required.
v1.5.0 | Added in: v1.5.0

- `value` <string> | <Buffer> | <Uint8Array> | <integer> What to search for.
- `byteOffset` <integer> Where to begin searching in `buf`. Default: `0`.
- `encoding` <string> If `value` is a string, this is the encoding used to determine the binary representation of the string that will be searched for in `buf`. Default: `'utf8'`.
- Returns: <integer> The index of the first occurrence of `value` in `buf`, or `-1` if `buf` does not contain `value`.

If `value` is:

- a string, `value` is interpreted according to the character encoding in `encoding`.
- a `Buffer` or `Uint8Array`, `value` will be used in its entirety. To compare a partial `Buffer`, use `buf.slice()`.
- a number, `value` will be interpreted as an unsigned 8-bit integer value between `0` and `255`.

    const buf = Buffer.from('this is a buffer');

    console.log(buf.indexOf('this'));
    // Prints: 0
    console.log(buf.indexOf('is'));
    // Prints: 2
    console.log(buf.indexOf(Buffer.from('a buffer')));
    // Prints: 8
    console.log(buf.indexOf(97));
    // Prints: 8 (97 is the decimal ASCII value for 'a')
    console.log(buf.indexOf(Buffer.from('a buffer example')));
    // Prints: -1
    console.log(buf.indexOf(Buffer.from('a buffer example').slice(0, 8)));
    // Prints: 8

    const utf16Buffer = Buffer.from('\u039a\u0391\u03a3\u03a3\u0395', 'utf16le');

    console.log(utf16Buffer.indexOf('\u03a3', 0, 'utf16le'));
    // Prints: 4
    console.log(utf16Buffer.indexOf('\u03a3', -4, 'utf16le'));
    // Prints: 6

If `value` is not a string, number, or `Buffer`, this method will throw a `TypeError`. If `value` is a number, it will be coerced to a valid byte value, an integer between 0 and 255.

If `byteOffset` is not a number, it will be coerced to a number. If the result of coercion is `NaN` or `0`, then the entire buffer will be searched. This behavior matches `String#indexOf()`.

    const b = Buffer.from('abcdef');

    // Passing a value that's a number, but not a valid byte
    // Prints: 2, equivalent to searching for 99 or 'c'
    console.log(b.indexOf(99.9));
    console.log(b.indexOf(256 + 99));

    // Passing a byteOffset that coerces to NaN or 0
    // Prints: 1, searching the whole buffer
    console.log(b.indexOf('b', undefined));
    console.log(b.indexOf('b', {}));
    console.log(b.indexOf('b', null));
    console.log(b.indexOf('b', []));

If `value` is an empty string or empty `Buffer` and `byteOffset` is less than `buf.length`, `byteOffset` will be returned. If `value` is empty and `byteOffset` is at least `buf.length`, `buf.length` will be returned.

### buf.keys()#

Added in: v1.1.0

- Returns: <Iterator>

Creates and returns an iterator of `buf` keys (indices).

    const buf = Buffer.from('buffer');

    for (const key of buf.keys()) {
      console.log(key);
    }
    // Prints:
    //   0
    //   1
    //   2
    //   3
    //   4
    //   5

### buf.lastIndexOf(value[, byteOffset][, encoding])[src]#

History

Version | Changes
--- | ---
v8.0.0 | The `value` can now be a `Uint8Array`.
v6.0.0 | Added in: v6.0.0

- `value` <string> | <Buffer> | <Uint8Array> | <integer> What to search for.
- `byteOffset` <integer> Where to begin searching in `buf`. Default: `buf.length``- 1`.
- `encoding` <string> If `value` is a string, this is the encoding used to determine the binary representation of the string that will be searched for in `buf`. Default: `'utf8'`.
- Returns: <integer> The index of the last occurrence of `value` in `buf`, or `-1` if `buf` does not contain `value`.

Identical to `buf.indexOf()`, except the last occurrence of `value` is found rather than the first occurrence.

    const buf = Buffer.from('this buffer is a buffer');

    console.log(buf.lastIndexOf('this'));
    // Prints: 0
    console.log(buf.lastIndexOf('buffer'));
    // Prints: 17
    console.log(buf.lastIndexOf(Buffer.from('buffer')));
    // Prints: 17
    console.log(buf.lastIndexOf(97));
    // Prints: 15 (97 is the decimal ASCII value for 'a')
    console.log(buf.lastIndexOf(Buffer.from('yolo')));
    // Prints: -1
    console.log(buf.lastIndexOf('buffer', 5));
    // Prints: 5
    console.log(buf.lastIndexOf('buffer', 4));
    // Prints: -1

    const utf16Buffer = Buffer.from('\u039a\u0391\u03a3\u03a3\u0395', 'utf16le');

    console.log(utf16Buffer.lastIndexOf('\u03a3', undefined, 'utf16le'));
    // Prints: 6
    console.log(utf16Buffer.lastIndexOf('\u03a3', -5, 'utf16le'));
    // Prints: 4

If `value` is not a string, number, or `Buffer`, this method will throw a `TypeError`. If `value` is a number, it will be coerced to a valid byte value, an integer between 0 and 255.

If `byteOffset` is not a number, it will be coerced to a number. Any arguments that coerce to `NaN`, like `{}` or `undefined`, will search the whole buffer. This behavior matches `String#lastIndexOf()`.

    const b = Buffer.from('abcdef');

    // Passing a value that's a number, but not a valid byte
    // Prints: 2, equivalent to searching for 99 or 'c'
    console.log(b.lastIndexOf(99.9));
    console.log(b.lastIndexOf(256 + 99));

    // Passing a byteOffset that coerces to NaN
    // Prints: 1, searching the whole buffer
    console.log(b.lastIndexOf('b', undefined));
    console.log(b.lastIndexOf('b', {}));

    // Passing a byteOffset that coerces to 0
    // Prints: -1, equivalent to passing 0
    console.log(b.lastIndexOf('b', null));
    console.log(b.lastIndexOf('b', []));

If `value` is an empty string or empty `Buffer`, `byteOffset` will be returned.

### buf.length#

Added in: v0.1.90

- <integer>

Returns the amount of memory allocated for `buf` in bytes. Note that this does not necessarily reflect the amount of "usable" data within `buf`.

    // Create a `Buffer` and write a shorter ASCII string to it.

    const buf = Buffer.alloc(1234);

    console.log(buf.length);
    // Prints: 1234

    buf.write('some string', 0, 'ascii');

    console.log(buf.length);
    // Prints: 1234

While the `length` property is not immutable, changing the value of `length` can result in undefined and inconsistent behavior. Applications that wish to modify the length of a `Buffer` should therefore treat `length` as read-only and use `buf.slice()` to create a new `Buffer`.

    let buf = Buffer.allocUnsafe(10);

    buf.write('abcdefghj', 0, 'ascii');

    console.log(buf.length);
    // Prints: 10

    buf = buf.slice(0, 5);

    console.log(buf.length);
    // Prints: 5

### buf.parent#

Deprecated since: v8.0.0

Stability: 0 - Deprecated: Use `buf.buffer` instead.

The `buf.parent` property is a deprecated alias for `buf.buffer`.

### buf.readDoubleBE(offset)#

### buf.readDoubleLE(offset)#

History

Version | Changes
--- | ---
v10.0.0 | Removed `noAssert` and no implicit coercion of the offset to `uint32` anymore.
v0.11.15 | Added in: v0.11.15

- `offset` <integer> Number of bytes to skip before starting to read. Must satisfy `0 <= offset <= buf.length - 8`.
- Returns: <number>

Reads a 64-bit double from `buf` at the specified `offset` with specified endian format (`readDoubleBE()` returns big endian, `readDoubleLE()` returns little endian).

    const buf = Buffer.from([1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8]);

    console.log(buf.readDoubleBE(0));
    // Prints: 8.20788039913184e-304
    console.log(buf.readDoubleLE(0));
    // Prints: 5.447603722011605e-270
    console.log(buf.readDoubleLE(1));
    // Throws ERR_OUT_OF_RANGE

### buf.readFloatBE(offset)#

### buf.readFloatLE(offset)#

History

Version | Changes
--- | ---
v10.0.0 | Removed `noAssert` and no implicit coercion of the offset to `uint32` anymore.
v0.11.15 | Added in: v0.11.15

- `offset` <integer> Number of bytes to skip before starting to read. Must satisfy `0 <= offset <= buf.length - 4`.
- Returns: <number>

Reads a 32-bit float from `buf` at the specified `offset` with specified endian format (`readFloatBE()` returns big endian, `readFloatLE()` returns little endian).

    const buf = Buffer.from([1, 2, 3, 4]);

    console.log(buf.readFloatBE(0));
    // Prints: 2.387939260590663e-38
    console.log(buf.readFloatLE(0));
    // Prints: 1.539989614439558e-36
    console.log(buf.readFloatLE(1));
    // Throws ERR_OUT_OF_RANGE

### buf.readInt8(offset)#

History

Version | Changes
--- | ---
v10.0.0 | Removed `noAssert` and no implicit coercion of the offset to `uint32` anymore.
v0.5.0 | Added in: v0.5.0

- `offset` <integer> Number of bytes to skip before starting to read. Must satisfy `0 <= offset <= buf.length - 1`.
- Returns: <integer>

Reads a signed 8-bit integer from `buf` at the specified `offset`.

Integers read from a `Buffer` are interpreted as two's complement signed values.

    const buf = Buffer.from([-1, 5]);

    console.log(buf.readInt8(0));
    // Prints: -1
    console.log(buf.readInt8(1));
    // Prints: 5
    console.log(buf.readInt8(2));
    // Throws ERR_OUT_OF_RANGE

### buf.readInt16BE(offset)#

### buf.readInt16LE(offset)#

History

Version | Changes
--- | ---
v10.0.0 | Removed `noAssert` and no implicit coercion of the offset to `uint32` anymore.
v0.5.5 | Added in: v0.5.5

- `offset` <integer> Number of bytes to skip before starting to read. Must satisfy `0 <= offset <= buf.length - 2`.
- Returns: <integer>

Reads a signed 16-bit integer from `buf` at the specified `offset` with the specified endian format (`readInt16BE()` returns big endian, `readInt16LE()` returns little endian).

Integers read from a `Buffer` are interpreted as two's complement signed values.

    const buf = Buffer.from([0, 5]);

    console.log(buf.readInt16BE(0));
    // Prints: 5
    console.log(buf.readInt16LE(0));
    // Prints: 1280
    console.log(buf.readInt16LE(1));
    // Throws ERR_OUT_OF_RANGE

### buf.readInt32BE(offset)#

### buf.readInt32LE(offset)#

History

Version | Changes
--- | ---
v10.0.0 | Removed `noAssert` and no implicit coercion of the offset to `uint32` anymore.
v0.5.5 | Added in: v0.5.5

- `offset` <integer> Number of bytes to skip before starting to read. Must satisfy `0 <= offset <= buf.length - 4`.
- Returns: <integer>

Reads a signed 32-bit integer from `buf` at the specified `offset` with the specified endian format (`readInt32BE()` returns big endian, `readInt32LE()` returns little endian).

Integers read from a `Buffer` are interpreted as two's complement signed values.

    const buf = Buffer.from([0, 0, 0, 5]);

    console.log(buf.readInt32BE(0));
    // Prints: 5
    console.log(buf.readInt32LE(0));
    // Prints: 83886080
    console.log(buf.readInt32LE(1));
    // Throws ERR_OUT_OF_RANGE

### buf.readIntBE(offset, byteLength)#

### buf.readIntLE(offset, byteLength)#

History

Version | Changes
--- | ---
v10.0.0 | Removed `noAssert` and no implicit coercion of the offset and `byteLength` to `uint32` anymore.
v0.11.15 | Added in: v0.11.15

- `offset` <integer> Number of bytes to skip before starting to read. Must satisfy `0 <= offset <= buf.length - byteLength`.
- `byteLength` <integer> Number of bytes to read. Must satisfy `0 < byteLength <= 6`.
- Returns: <integer>

Reads `byteLength` number of bytes from `buf` at the specified `offset` and interprets the result as a two's complement signed value. Supports up to 48 bits of accuracy.

    const buf = Buffer.from([0x12, 0x34, 0x56, 0x78, 0x90, 0xab]);

    console.log(buf.readIntLE(0, 6).toString(16));
    // Prints: -546f87a9cbee
    console.log(buf.readIntBE(0, 6).toString(16));
    // Prints: 1234567890ab
    console.log(buf.readIntBE(1, 6).toString(16));
    // Throws ERR_OUT_OF_RANGE
    console.log(buf.readIntBE(1, 0).toString(16));
    // Throws ERR_OUT_OF_RANGE

### buf.readUInt8(offset)#

History

Version | Changes
--- | ---
v10.0.0 | Removed `noAssert` and no implicit coercion of the offset to `uint32` anymore.
v0.5.0 | Added in: v0.5.0

- `offset` <integer> Number of bytes to skip before starting to read. Must satisfy `0 <= offset <= buf.length - 1`.
- Returns: <integer>

Reads an unsigned 8-bit integer from `buf` at the specified `offset`.

    const buf = Buffer.from([1, -2]);

    console.log(buf.readUInt8(0));
    // Prints: 1
    console.log(buf.readUInt8(1));
    // Prints: 254
    console.log(buf.readUInt8(2));
    // Throws ERR_OUT_OF_RANGE

### buf.readUInt16BE(offset)#

### buf.readUInt16LE(offset)#

History

Version | Changes
--- | ---
v10.0.0 | Removed `noAssert` and no implicit coercion of the offset to `uint32` anymore.
v0.5.5 | Added in: v0.5.5

- `offset` <integer> Number of bytes to skip before starting to read. Must satisfy `0 <= offset <= buf.length - 2`.
- Returns: <integer>

Reads an unsigned 16-bit integer from `buf` at the specified `offset` with specified endian format (`readUInt16BE()` returns big endian, `readUInt16LE()` returns little endian).

    const buf = Buffer.from([0x12, 0x34, 0x56]);

    console.log(buf.readUInt16BE(0).toString(16));
    // Prints: 1234
    console.log(buf.readUInt16LE(0).toString(16));
    // Prints: 3412
    console.log(buf.readUInt16BE(1).toString(16));
    // Prints: 3456
    console.log(buf.readUInt16LE(1).toString(16));
    // Prints: 5634
    console.log(buf.readUInt16LE(2).toString(16));
    // Throws ERR_OUT_OF_RANGE

### buf.readUInt32BE(offset)#

### buf.readUInt32LE(offset)#

History

Version | Changes
--- | ---
v10.0.0 | Removed `noAssert` and no implicit coercion of the offset to `uint32` anymore.
v0.5.5 | Added in: v0.5.5

- `offset` <integer> Number of bytes to skip before starting to read. Must satisfy `0 <= offset <= buf.length - 4`.
- Returns: <integer>

Reads an unsigned 32-bit integer from `buf` at the specified `offset` with specified endian format (`readUInt32BE()` returns big endian, `readUInt32LE()` returns little endian).

    const buf = Buffer.from([0x12, 0x34, 0x56, 0x78]);

    console.log(buf.readUInt32BE(0).toString(16));
    // Prints: 12345678
    console.log(buf.readUInt32LE(0).toString(16));
    // Prints: 78563412
    console.log(buf.readUInt32LE(1).toString(16));
    // Throws ERR_OUT_OF_RANGE

### buf.readUIntBE(offset, byteLength)#

### buf.readUIntLE(offset, byteLength)#

History

Version | Changes
--- | ---
v10.0.0 | Removed `noAssert` and no implicit coercion of the offset and `byteLength` to `uint32` anymore.
v0.11.15 | Added in: v0.11.15

- `offset` <integer> Number of bytes to skip before starting to read. Must satisfy `0 <= offset <= buf.length - byteLength`.
- `byteLength` <integer> Number of bytes to read. Must satisfy `0 < byteLength <= 6`.
- Returns: <integer>

Reads `byteLength` number of bytes from `buf` at the specified `offset` and interprets the result as an unsigned integer. Supports up to 48 bits of accuracy.

    const buf = Buffer.from([0x12, 0x34, 0x56, 0x78, 0x90, 0xab]);

    console.log(buf.readUIntBE(0, 6).toString(16));
    // Prints: 1234567890ab
    console.log(buf.readUIntLE(0, 6).toString(16));
    // Prints: ab9078563412
    console.log(buf.readUIntBE(1, 6).toString(16));
    // Throws ERR_OUT_OF_RANGE

### buf.slice([start[, end]])[src]#

History

Version | Changes
--- | ---
v7.1.0, v6.9.2 | Coercing the offsets to integers now handles values outside the 32-bit integer range properly.
v7.0.0 | All offsets are now coerced to integers before doing any calculations with them.
v0.3.0 | Added in: v0.3.0

- `start` <integer> Where the new `Buffer` will start. Default: `0`.
- `end` <integer> Where the new `Buffer` will end (not inclusive). Default: `buf.length`.
- Returns: <Buffer>

Returns a new `Buffer` that references the same memory as the original, but offset and cropped by the `start` and `end` indices.

Specifying `end` greater than `buf.length` will return the same result as that of `end` equal to `buf.length`.

Modifying the new `Buffer` slice will modify the memory in the original `Buffer` because the allocated memory of the two objects overlap.

    // Create a `Buffer` with the ASCII alphabet, take a slice, and modify one byte
    // from the original `Buffer`.

    const buf1 = Buffer.allocUnsafe(26);

    for (let i = 0; i < 26; i++) {
      // 97 is the decimal ASCII value for 'a'
      buf1[i] = i + 97;
    }

    const buf2 = buf1.slice(0, 3);

    console.log(buf2.toString('ascii', 0, buf2.length));
    // Prints: abc

    buf1[0] = 33;

    console.log(buf2.toString('ascii', 0, buf2.length));
    // Prints: !bc

Specifying negative indexes causes the slice to be generated relative to the end of `buf` rather than the beginning.

    const buf = Buffer.from('buffer');

    console.log(buf.slice(-6, -1).toString());
    // Prints: buffe
    // (Equivalent to buf.slice(0, 5))

    console.log(buf.slice(-6, -2).toString());
    // Prints: buff
    // (Equivalent to buf.slice(0, 4))

    console.log(buf.slice(-5, -2).toString());
    // Prints: uff
    // (Equivalent to buf.slice(1, 4))

### buf.swap16()[src]#

Added in: v5.10.0

- Returns: <Buffer> A reference to `buf`.

Interprets `buf` as an array of unsigned 16-bit integers and swaps the byte order in-place. Throws `ERR_INVALID_BUFFER_SIZE` if `buf.length` is not a multiple of 2.

    const buf1 = Buffer.from([0x1, 0x2, 0x3, 0x4, 0x5, 0x6, 0x7, 0x8]);

    console.log(buf1);
    // Prints: <Buffer 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08>

    buf1.swap16();

    console.log(buf1);
    // Prints: <Buffer 02 01 04 03 06 05 08 07>

    const buf2 = Buffer.from([0x1, 0x2, 0x3]);

    buf2.swap16();
    // Throws ERR_INVALID_BUFFER_SIZE

One convenient use of `buf.swap16()` is to perform a fast in-place conversion between UTF-16 little-endian and UTF-16 big-endian:

    const buf = Buffer.from('This is little-endian UTF-16', 'utf16le');
    buf.swap16(); // Convert to big-endian UTF-16 text.

### buf.swap32()[src]#

Added in: v5.10.0

- Returns: <Buffer> A reference to `buf`.

Interprets `buf` as an array of unsigned 32-bit integers and swaps the byte order in-place. Throws `ERR_INVALID_BUFFER_SIZE` if `buf.length` is not a multiple of 4.

    const buf1 = Buffer.from([0x1, 0x2, 0x3, 0x4, 0x5, 0x6, 0x7, 0x8]);

    console.log(buf1);
    // Prints: <Buffer 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08>

    buf1.swap32();

    console.log(buf1);
    // Prints: <Buffer 04 03 02 01 08 07 06 05>

    const buf2 = Buffer.from([0x1, 0x2, 0x3]);

    buf2.swap32();
    // Throws ERR_INVALID_BUFFER_SIZE

### buf.swap64()[src]#

Added in: v6.3.0

- Returns: <Buffer> A reference to `buf`.

Interprets `buf` as an array of 64-bit numbers and swaps byte order in-place. Throws `ERR_INVALID_BUFFER_SIZE` if `buf.length` is not a multiple of 8.

    const buf1 = Buffer.from([0x1, 0x2, 0x3, 0x4, 0x5, 0x6, 0x7, 0x8]);

    console.log(buf1);
    // Prints: <Buffer 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08>

    buf1.swap64();

    console.log(buf1);
    // Prints: <Buffer 08 07 06 05 04 03 02 01>

    const buf2 = Buffer.from([0x1, 0x2, 0x3]);

    buf2.swap64();
    // Throws ERR_INVALID_BUFFER_SIZE

Note that JavaScript cannot encode 64-bit integers. This method is intended for working with 64-bit floats.

### buf.toJSON()[src]#

Added in: v0.9.2

- Returns: <Object>

Returns a JSON representation of `buf`. `JSON.stringify()` implicitly calls this function when stringifying a `Buffer` instance.

    const buf = Buffer.from([0x1, 0x2, 0x3, 0x4, 0x5]);
    const json = JSON.stringify(buf);

    console.log(json);
    // Prints: {"type":"Buffer","data":[1,2,3,4,5]}

    const copy = JSON.parse(json, (key, value) => {
      return value && value.type === 'Buffer' ?
        Buffer.from(value.data) :
        value;
    });

    console.log(copy);
    // Prints: <Buffer 01 02 03 04 05>

### buf.toString([encoding[, start[, end]]])[src]#

Added in: v0.1.90

- `encoding` <string> The character encoding to use. Default: `'utf8'`.
- `start` <integer> The byte offset to start decoding at. Default: `0`.
- `end` <integer> The byte offset to stop decoding at (not inclusive). Default: `buf.length`.
- Returns: <string>

Decodes `buf` to a string according to the specified character encoding in `encoding`. `start` and `end` may be passed to decode only a subset of `buf`.

The maximum length of a string instance (in UTF-16 code units) is available as `buffer.constants.MAX_STRING_LENGTH`.

    const buf1 = Buffer.allocUnsafe(26);

    for (let i = 0; i < 26; i++) {
      // 97 is the decimal ASCII value for 'a'
      buf1[i] = i + 97;
    }

    console.log(buf1.toString('ascii'));
    // Prints: abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz
    console.log(buf1.toString('ascii', 0, 5));
    // Prints: abcde

    const buf2 = Buffer.from('tést');

    console.log(buf2.toString('hex'));
    // Prints: 74c3a97374
    console.log(buf2.toString('utf8', 0, 3));
    // Prints: té
    console.log(buf2.toString(undefined, 0, 3));
    // Prints: té

### buf.values()#

Added in: v1.1.0

- Returns: <Iterator>

Creates and returns an iterator for `buf` values (bytes). This function is called automatically when a `Buffer` is used in a `for..of` statement.

    const buf = Buffer.from('buffer');

    for (const value of buf.values()) {
      console.log(value);
    }
    // Prints:
    //   98
    //   117
    //   102
    //   102
    //   101
    //   114

    for (const value of buf) {
      console.log(value);
    }
    // Prints:
    //   98
    //   117
    //   102
    //   102
    //   101
    //   114

### buf.write(string[, offset[, length]][, encoding])[src]#

Added in: v0.1.90

- `string` <string> String to write to `buf`.
- `offset` <integer> Number of bytes to skip before starting to write `string`. Default: `0`.
- `length` <integer> Number of bytes to write. Default: `buf.length - offset`.
- `encoding` <string> The character encoding of `string`. Default: `'utf8'`.
- Returns: <integer> Number of bytes written.

Writes `string` to `buf` at `offset` according to the character encoding in `encoding`. The `length` parameter is the number of bytes to write. If `buf` did not contain enough space to fit the entire string, only part of `string` will be written. However, partially encoded characters will not be written.

    const buf = Buffer.alloc(256);

    const len = buf.write('\u00bd + \u00bc = \u00be', 0);

    console.log(`${len} bytes: ${buf.toString('utf8', 0, len)}`);
    // Prints: 12 bytes: ½ + ¼ = ¾

### buf.writeDoubleBE(value, offset)#

### buf.writeDoubleLE(value, offset)#

History

Version | Changes
--- | ---
v10.0.0 | Removed `noAssert` and no implicit coercion of the offset to `uint32` anymore.
v0.11.15 | Added in: v0.11.15

- `value` <number> Number to be written to `buf`.
- `offset` <integer> Number of bytes to skip before starting to write. Must satisfy `0 <= offset <= buf.length - 8`.
- Returns: <integer> `offset` plus the number of bytes written.

Writes `value` to `buf` at the specified `offset` with specified endian format (`writeDoubleBE()` writes big endian, `writeDoubleLE()` writes little endian). `value` should be a valid 64-bit double. Behavior is undefined when `value` is anything other than a 64-bit double.

    const buf = Buffer.allocUnsafe(8);

    buf.writeDoubleBE(123.456, 0);

    console.log(buf);
    // Prints: <Buffer 40 5e dd 2f 1a 9f be 77>

    buf.writeDoubleLE(123.456, 0);

    console.log(buf);
    // Prints: <Buffer 77 be 9f 1a 2f dd 5e 40>

### buf.writeFloatBE(value, offset)#

### buf.writeFloatLE(value, offset)#

History

Version | Changes
--- | ---
v10.0.0 | Removed `noAssert` and no implicit coercion of the offset to `uint32` anymore.
v0.11.15 | Added in: v0.11.15

- `value` <number> Number to be written to `buf`.
- `offset` <integer> Number of bytes to skip before starting to write. Must satisfy `0 <= offset <= buf.length - 4`.
- Returns: <integer> `offset` plus the number of bytes written.

Writes `value` to `buf` at the specified `offset` with specified endian format (`writeFloatBE()` writes big endian, `writeFloatLE()` writes little endian). `value` should be a valid 32-bit float. Behavior is undefined when `value` is anything other than a 32-bit float.

    const buf = Buffer.allocUnsafe(4);

    buf.writeFloatBE(0xcafebabe, 0);

    console.log(buf);
    // Prints: <Buffer 4f 4a fe bb>

    buf.writeFloatLE(0xcafebabe, 0);

    console.log(buf);
    // Prints: <Buffer bb fe 4a 4f>

### buf.writeInt8(value, offset)#

History

Version | Changes
--- | ---
v10.0.0 | Removed `noAssert` and no implicit coercion of the offset to `uint32` anymore.
v0.5.0 | Added in: v0.5.0

- `value` <integer> Number to be written to `buf`.
- `offset` <integer> Number of bytes to skip before starting to write. Must satisfy `0 <= offset <= buf.length - 1`.
- Returns: <integer> `offset` plus the number of bytes written.

Writes `value` to `buf` at the specified `offset`. `value` should be a valid signed 8-bit integer. Behavior is undefined when `value` is anything other than a signed 8-bit integer.

`value` is interpreted and written as a two's complement signed integer.

    const buf = Buffer.allocUnsafe(2);

    buf.writeInt8(2, 0);
    buf.writeInt8(-2, 1);

    console.log(buf);
    // Prints: <Buffer 02 fe>

### buf.writeInt16BE(value, offset)#

### buf.writeInt16LE(value, offset)#

History

Version | Changes
--- | ---
v10.0.0 | Removed `noAssert` and no implicit coercion of the offset to `uint32` anymore.
v0.5.5 | Added in: v0.5.5

- `value` <integer> Number to be written to `buf`.
- `offset` <integer> Number of bytes to skip before starting to write. Must satisfy `0 <= offset <= buf.length - 2`.
- Returns: <integer> `offset` plus the number of bytes written.

Writes `value` to `buf` at the specified `offset` with specified endian format (`writeInt16BE()` writes big endian, `writeInt16LE()` writes little endian). `value` should be a valid signed 16-bit integer. Behavior is undefined when `value` is anything other than a signed 16-bit integer.

`value` is interpreted and written as a two's complement signed integer.

    const buf = Buffer.allocUnsafe(4);

    buf.writeInt16BE(0x0102, 0);
    buf.writeInt16LE(0x0304, 2);

    console.log(buf);
    // Prints: <Buffer 01 02 04 03>

### buf.writeInt32BE(value, offset)#

### buf.writeInt32LE(value, offset)#

History

Version | Changes
--- | ---
v10.0.0 | Removed `noAssert` and no implicit coercion of the offset to `uint32` anymore.
v0.5.5 | Added in: v0.5.5

- `value` <integer> Number to be written to `buf`.
- `offset` <integer> Number of bytes to skip before starting to write. Must satisfy `0 <= offset <= buf.length - 4`.
- Returns: <integer> `offset` plus the number of bytes written.

Writes `value` to `buf` at the specified `offset` with specified endian format (`writeInt32BE()` writes big endian, `writeInt32LE()` writes little endian). `value` should be a valid signed 32-bit integer. Behavior is undefined when `value` is anything other than a signed 32-bit integer.

`value` is interpreted and written as a two's complement signed integer.

    const buf = Buffer.allocUnsafe(8);

    buf.writeInt32BE(0x01020304, 0);
    buf.writeInt32LE(0x05060708, 4);

    console.log(buf);
    // Prints: <Buffer 01 02 03 04 08 07 06 05>

### buf.writeIntBE(value, offset, byteLength)#

### buf.writeIntLE(value, offset, byteLength)#

History

Version | Changes
--- | ---
v10.0.0 | Removed `noAssert` and no implicit coercion of the offset and `byteLength` to `uint32` anymore.
v0.11.15 | Added in: v0.11.15

- `value` <integer> Number to be written to `buf`.
- `offset` <integer> Number of bytes to skip before starting to write. Must satisfy `0 <= offset <= buf.length - byteLength`.
- `byteLength` <integer> Number of bytes to write. Must satisfy `0 < byteLength <= 6`.
- Returns: <integer> `offset` plus the number of bytes written.

Writes `byteLength` bytes of `value` to `buf` at the specified `offset`. Supports up to 48 bits of accuracy. Behavior is undefined when `value` is anything other than a signed integer.

    const buf = Buffer.allocUnsafe(6);

    buf.writeIntBE(0x1234567890ab, 0, 6);

    console.log(buf);
    // Prints: <Buffer 12 34 56 78 90 ab>

    buf.writeIntLE(0x1234567890ab, 0, 6);

    console.log(buf);
    // Prints: <Buffer ab 90 78 56 34 12>

### buf.writeUInt8(value, offset)#

History

Version | Changes
--- | ---
v10.0.0 | Removed `noAssert` and no implicit coercion of the offset to `uint32` anymore.
v0.5.0 | Added in: v0.5.0

- `value` <integer> Number to be written to `buf`.
- `offset` <integer> Number of bytes to skip before starting to write. Must satisfy `0 <= offset <= buf.length - 1`.
- Returns: <integer> `offset` plus the number of bytes written.

Writes `value` to `buf` at the specified `offset`. `value` should be a valid unsigned 8-bit integer. Behavior is undefined when `value` is anything other than an unsigned 8-bit integer.

    const buf = Buffer.allocUnsafe(4);

    buf.writeUInt8(0x3, 0);
    buf.writeUInt8(0x4, 1);
    buf.writeUInt8(0x23, 2);
    buf.writeUInt8(0x42, 3);

    console.log(buf);
    // Prints: <Buffer 03 04 23 42>

### buf.writeUInt16BE(value, offset)#

### buf.writeUInt16LE(value, offset)#

History

Version | Changes
--- | ---
v10.0.0 | Removed `noAssert` and no implicit coercion of the offset to `uint32` anymore.
v0.5.5 | Added in: v0.5.5

- `value` <integer> Number to be written to `buf`.
- `offset` <integer> Number of bytes to skip before starting to write. Must satisfy `0 <= offset <= buf.length - 2`.
- Returns: <integer> `offset` plus the number of bytes written.

Writes `value` to `buf` at the specified `offset` with specified endian format (`writeUInt16BE()` writes big endian, `writeUInt16LE()` writes little endian). `value` should be a valid unsigned 16-bit integer. Behavior is undefined when `value` is anything other than an unsigned 16-bit integer.

    const buf = Buffer.allocUnsafe(4);

    buf.writeUInt16BE(0xdead, 0);
    buf.writeUInt16BE(0xbeef, 2);

    console.log(buf);
    // Prints: <Buffer de ad be ef>

    buf.writeUInt16LE(0xdead, 0);
    buf.writeUInt16LE(0xbeef, 2);

    console.log(buf);
    // Prints: <Buffer ad de ef be>

### buf.writeUInt32BE(value, offset)#

### buf.writeUInt32LE(value, offset)#

History

Version | Changes
--- | ---
v10.0.0 | Removed `noAssert` and no implicit coercion of the offset to `uint32` anymore.
v0.5.5 | Added in: v0.5.5

- `value` <integer> Number to be written to `buf`.
- `offset` <integer> Number of bytes to skip before starting to write. Must satisfy `0 <= offset <= buf.length - 4`.
- Returns: <integer> `offset` plus the number of bytes written.

Writes `value` to `buf` at the specified `offset` with specified endian format (`writeUInt32BE()` writes big endian, `writeUInt32LE()` writes little endian). `value` should be a valid unsigned 32-bit integer. Behavior is undefined when `value` is anything other than an unsigned 32-bit integer.

    const buf = Buffer.allocUnsafe(4);

    buf.writeUInt32BE(0xfeedface, 0);

    console.log(buf);
    // Prints: <Buffer fe ed fa ce>

    buf.writeUInt32LE(0xfeedface, 0);

    console.log(buf);
    // Prints: <Buffer ce fa ed fe>

### buf.writeUIntBE(value, offset, byteLength)#

### buf.writeUIntLE(value, offset, byteLength)#

History

Version | Changes
--- | ---
v10.0.0 | Removed `noAssert` and no implicit coercion of the offset and `byteLength` to `uint32` anymore.
v0.5.5 | Added in: v0.5.5

- `value` <integer> Number to be written to `buf`.
- `offset` <integer> Number of bytes to skip before starting to write. Must satisfy `0 <= offset <= buf.length - byteLength`.
- `byteLength` <integer> Number of bytes to write. Must satisfy `0 < byteLength <= 6`.
- Returns: <integer> `offset` plus the number of bytes written.

Writes `byteLength` bytes of `value` to `buf` at the specified `offset`. Supports up to 48 bits of accuracy. Behavior is undefined when `value` is anything other than an unsigned integer.

    const buf = Buffer.allocUnsafe(6);

    buf.writeUIntBE(0x1234567890ab, 0, 6);

    console.log(buf);
    // Prints: <Buffer 12 34 56 78 90 ab>

    buf.writeUIntLE(0x1234567890ab, 0, 6);

    console.log(buf);
    // Prints: <Buffer ab 90 78 56 34 12>

## buffer.INSPECT_MAX_BYTES#

Added in: v0.5.4

- <integer> Default: `50`

Returns the maximum number of bytes that will be returned when `buf.inspect()` is called. This can be overridden by user modules. See `util.inspect()` for more details on `buf.inspect()` behavior.

Note that this is a property on the `buffer` module returned by `require('buffer')`, not on the `Buffer` global or a `Buffer` instance.

## buffer.kMaxLength#

Added in: v3.0.0

- <integer> The largest size allowed for a single `Buffer` instance.

An alias for `buffer.constants.MAX_LENGTH`.

Note that this is a property on the `buffer` module returned by `require('buffer')`, not on the `Buffer` global or a `Buffer` instance.

## buffer.transcode(source, fromEnc, toEnc)#

History

Version | Changes
--- | ---
v8.0.0 | The `source` parameter can now be a `Uint8Array`.
v7.1.0 | Added in: v7.1.0

- `source` <Buffer> | <Uint8Array> A `Buffer` or `Uint8Array` instance.
- `fromEnc` <string> The current encoding.
- `toEnc` <string> To target encoding.

Re-encodes the given `Buffer` or `Uint8Array` instance from one character encoding to another. Returns a new `Buffer` instance.

Throws if the `fromEnc` or `toEnc` specify invalid character encodings or if conversion from `fromEnc` to `toEnc` is not permitted.

Encodings supported by `buffer.transcode()` are: `'ascii'`, `'utf8'`, `'utf16le'`, `'ucs2'`, `'latin1'`, and `'binary'`.

The transcoding process will use substitution characters if a given byte sequence cannot be adequately represented in the target encoding. For instance:

    const buffer = require('buffer');

    const newBuf = buffer.transcode(Buffer.from('€'), 'utf8', 'ascii');
    console.log(newBuf.toString('ascii'));
    // Prints: '?'

Because the Euro (`€`) sign is not representable in US-ASCII, it is replaced with `?` in the transcoded `Buffer`.

Note that this is a property on the `buffer` module returned by `require('buffer')`, not on the `Buffer` global or a `Buffer` instance.

## Class: SlowBuffer#

Deprecated since: v6.0.0

Stability: 0 - Deprecated: Use `Buffer.allocUnsafeSlow()` instead.

Returns an un-pooled `Buffer`.

In order to avoid the garbage collection overhead of creating many individually allocated `Buffer` instances, by default allocations under 4KB are sliced from a single larger allocated object.

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 `SlowBuffer` then copy out the relevant bits.

    // 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 = SlowBuffer(10);

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

        store.push(sb);
      }
    });

Use of `SlowBuffer` should be used only as a last resort after a developer has observed undue memory retention in their applications.

### new SlowBuffer(size)#

Deprecated since: v6.0.0

Stability: 0 - Deprecated: Use `Buffer.allocUnsafeSlow()` instead.

- `size` <integer> The desired length of the new `SlowBuffer`.

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

The underlying memory for `SlowBuffer` instances is not initialized. The contents of a newly created `SlowBuffer` are unknown and may contain sensitive data. Use `buf.fill(0)` to initialize a `SlowBuffer` with zeroes.

    const { SlowBuffer } = require('buffer');

    const buf = new SlowBuffer(5);

    console.log(buf);
    // Prints: (contents may vary): <Buffer 78 e0 82 02 01>

    buf.fill(0);

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

## Buffer Constants#

Added in: v8.2.0

Note that `buffer.constants` is a property on the `buffer` module returned by `require('buffer')`, not on the `Buffer` global or a `Buffer` instance.

### buffer.constants.MAX_LENGTH#

Added in: v8.2.0

- <integer> The largest size allowed for a single `Buffer` instance.

On 32-bit architectures, this value is `(2^30)-1` (~1GB). On 64-bit architectures, this value is `(2^31)-1` (~2GB).

This value is also available as `buffer.kMaxLength`.

### buffer.constants.MAX_STRING_LENGTH#

Added in: v8.2.0

- <integer> The largest length allowed for a single `string` instance.

Represents the largest `length` that a `string` primitive can have, counted in UTF-16 code units.

This value may depend on the JS engine that is being used.