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260803.13 · 2026-08-03, Version 24.19.0 'Krypton' (LTS)

Web Streams API

Stability: 2 - Stable

An implementation of the WHATWG Streams Standard.

Overview

The WHATWG Streams Standard (or “web streams”) defines an API for handling streaming data. It is similar to the Node.js Streams API but emerged later and has become the “standard” API for streaming data across many JavaScript environments.

There are three primary types of objects:

Example ReadableStream

This example creates a simple ReadableStream that pushes the current performance.now() timestamp once every second forever. An async iterable is used to read the data from the stream.

import {
  ReadableStream,
} from 'node:stream/web';

import {
  setInterval as every,
} from 'node:timers/promises';

import {
  performance,
} from 'node:perf_hooks';

const SECOND = 1000;

const stream = new ReadableStream({
  async start(controller) {
    for await (const _ of every(SECOND))
      controller.enqueue(performance.now());
  },
});

for await (const value of stream)
  console.log(value);
const {
  ReadableStream,
} = require('node:stream/web');

const {
  setInterval: every,
} = require('node:timers/promises');

const {
  performance,
} = require('node:perf_hooks');

const SECOND = 1000;

const stream = new ReadableStream({
  async start(controller) {
    for await (const _ of every(SECOND))
      controller.enqueue(performance.now());
  },
});

(async () => {
  for await (const value of stream)
    console.log(value);
})();

Node.js streams interoperability

Node.js streams can be converted to web streams and vice versa via the toWeb and fromWeb methods present on stream.Readable, stream.Writable and stream.Duplex objects.

For more details refer to the relevant documentation:

API

ReadableStreamTee(stream[, cloneForBranch2])

Stability: 1 - Experimental

Runs the WHATWG ReadableStreamTee abstract operation on stream.

This differs from readableStream.tee() only when cloneForBranch2 is true. The tee() method always passes false, while other web platform specifications, such as Fetch body cloning, pass true so that the second branch receives cloned chunks and consumption of one branch cannot mutate chunks seen by the other.

Class: ReadableStream

new ReadableStream([underlyingSource [, strategy]])

readableStream.locked

The readableStream.locked property is false by default, and is switched to true while there is an active reader consuming the stream’s data.

readableStream.cancel([reason])

readableStream.getReader([options])

import { ReadableStream } from 'node:stream/web';

const stream = new ReadableStream();

const reader = stream.getReader();

console.log(await reader.read());
const { ReadableStream } = require('node:stream/web');

const stream = new ReadableStream();

const reader = stream.getReader();

reader.read().then(console.log);

Causes the readableStream.locked to be true.

readableStream.pipeThrough(transform[, options])

Connects this {ReadableStream} to the pair of {ReadableStream} and {WritableStream} provided in the transform argument such that the data from this {ReadableStream} is written in to transform.writable, possibly transformed, then pushed to transform.readable. Once the pipeline is configured, transform.readable is returned.

Causes the readableStream.locked to be true while the pipe operation is active.

import {
  ReadableStream,
  TransformStream,
} from 'node:stream/web';

const stream = new ReadableStream({
  start(controller) {
    controller.enqueue('a');
  },
});

const transform = new TransformStream({
  transform(chunk, controller) {
    controller.enqueue(chunk.toUpperCase());
  },
});

const transformedStream = stream.pipeThrough(transform);

for await (const chunk of transformedStream)
  console.log(chunk);
  // Prints: A
const {
  ReadableStream,
  TransformStream,
} = require('node:stream/web');

const stream = new ReadableStream({
  start(controller) {
    controller.enqueue('a');
  },
});

const transform = new TransformStream({
  transform(chunk, controller) {
    controller.enqueue(chunk.toUpperCase());
  },
});

const transformedStream = stream.pipeThrough(transform);

(async () => {
  for await (const chunk of transformedStream)
    console.log(chunk);
    // Prints: A
})();

readableStream.pipeTo(destination[, options])

Causes the readableStream.locked to be true while the pipe operation is active.

readableStream.tee()

Returns a pair of new {ReadableStream} instances to which this ReadableStream’s data will be forwarded. Each will receive the same data.

Causes the readableStream.locked to be true.

readableStream.values([options])

Creates and returns an async iterator usable for consuming this ReadableStream’s data.

Causes the readableStream.locked to be true while the async iterator is active.

import { Buffer } from 'node:buffer';

const stream = new ReadableStream(getSomeSource());

for await (const chunk of stream.values({ preventCancel: true }))
  console.log(Buffer.from(chunk).toString());

Async Iteration

The {ReadableStream} object supports the async iterator protocol using for await syntax.

import { Buffer } from 'node:buffer';

const stream = new ReadableStream(getSomeSource());

for await (const chunk of stream)
  console.log(Buffer.from(chunk).toString());

The async iterator will consume the {ReadableStream} until it terminates.

By default, if the async iterator exits early (via either a break, return, or a throw), the {ReadableStream} will be closed. To prevent automatic closing of the {ReadableStream}, use the readableStream.values() method to acquire the async iterator and set the preventCancel option to true.

The {ReadableStream} must not be locked (that is, it must not have an existing active reader). During the async iteration, the {ReadableStream} will be locked.

Transferring with postMessage()

A {ReadableStream} instance can be transferred using a {MessagePort}.

const stream = new ReadableStream(getReadableSourceSomehow());

const { port1, port2 } = new MessageChannel();

port1.onmessage = ({ data }) => {
  data.getReader().read().then((chunk) => {
    console.log(chunk);
  });
};

port2.postMessage(stream, [stream]);

ReadableStream.from(iterable)

A utility method that creates a new {ReadableStream} from an iterable.

import { ReadableStream } from 'node:stream/web';

async function* asyncIterableGenerator() {
  yield 'a';
  yield 'b';
  yield 'c';
}

const stream = ReadableStream.from(asyncIterableGenerator());

for await (const chunk of stream)
  console.log(chunk); // Prints: 'a', 'b', 'c'
const { ReadableStream } = require('node:stream/web');

async function* asyncIterableGenerator() {
  yield 'a';
  yield 'b';
  yield 'c';
}

(async () => {
  const stream = ReadableStream.from(asyncIterableGenerator());

  for await (const chunk of stream)
    console.log(chunk); // Prints: 'a', 'b', 'c'
})();

To pipe the resulting {ReadableStream} into a {WritableStream} the {Iterable} should yield a sequence of {Buffer}, {TypedArray}, or {DataView} objects.

import { ReadableStream } from 'node:stream/web';
import { Buffer } from 'node:buffer';

async function* asyncIterableGenerator() {
  yield Buffer.from('a');
  yield Buffer.from('b');
  yield Buffer.from('c');
}

const stream = ReadableStream.from(asyncIterableGenerator());

await stream.pipeTo(createWritableStreamSomehow());
const { ReadableStream } = require('node:stream/web');
const { Buffer } = require('node:buffer');

async function* asyncIterableGenerator() {
  yield Buffer.from('a');
  yield Buffer.from('b');
  yield Buffer.from('c');
}

const stream = ReadableStream.from(asyncIterableGenerator());

(async () => {
  await stream.pipeTo(createWritableStreamSomehow());
})();

Class: ReadableStreamDefaultReader

By default, calling readableStream.getReader() with no arguments will return an instance of ReadableStreamDefaultReader. The default reader treats the chunks of data passed through the stream as opaque values, which allows the {ReadableStream} to work with generally any JavaScript value.

new ReadableStreamDefaultReader(stream)

Creates a new {ReadableStreamDefaultReader} that is locked to the given {ReadableStream}.

readableStreamDefaultReader.cancel([reason])

Cancels the {ReadableStream} and returns a promise that is fulfilled when the underlying stream has been canceled.

readableStreamDefaultReader.closed

readableStreamDefaultReader.read()

Requests the next chunk of data from the underlying {ReadableStream} and returns a promise that is fulfilled with the data once it is available.

readableStreamDefaultReader.releaseLock()

Releases this reader’s lock on the underlying {ReadableStream}.

Class: ReadableStreamBYOBReader

The ReadableStreamBYOBReader is an alternative consumer for byte-oriented {ReadableStream}s (those that are created with underlyingSource.type set equal to 'bytes' when the ReadableStream was created).

The BYOB is short for “bring your own buffer”. This is a pattern that allows for more efficient reading of byte-oriented data that avoids extraneous copying.

import {
  open,
} from 'node:fs/promises';

import {
  ReadableStream,
} from 'node:stream/web';

import { Buffer } from 'node:buffer';

class Source {
  type = 'bytes';
  autoAllocateChunkSize = 1024;

  async start(controller) {
    this.file = await open(new URL(import.meta.url));
    this.controller = controller;
  }

  async pull(controller) {
    const view = controller.byobRequest?.view;
    const {
      bytesRead,
    } = await this.file.read({
      buffer: view,
      offset: view.byteOffset,
      length: view.byteLength,
    });

    if (bytesRead === 0) {
      await this.file.close();
      this.controller.close();
    }
    controller.byobRequest.respond(bytesRead);
  }
}

const stream = new ReadableStream(new Source());

async function read(stream) {
  const reader = stream.getReader({ mode: 'byob' });

  const chunks = [];
  let result;
  do {
    result = await reader.read(Buffer.alloc(100));
    if (result.value !== undefined)
      chunks.push(Buffer.from(result.value));
  } while (!result.done);

  return Buffer.concat(chunks);
}

const data = await read(stream);
console.log(Buffer.from(data).toString());

new ReadableStreamBYOBReader(stream)

Creates a new ReadableStreamBYOBReader that is locked to the given {ReadableStream}.

readableStreamBYOBReader.cancel([reason])

Cancels the {ReadableStream} and returns a promise that is fulfilled when the underlying stream has been canceled.

readableStreamBYOBReader.closed

readableStreamBYOBReader.read(view[, options])

Requests the next chunk of data from the underlying {ReadableStream} and returns a promise that is fulfilled with the data once it is available.

Do not pass a pooled {Buffer} object instance in to this method. Pooled Buffer objects are created using Buffer.allocUnsafe(), or Buffer.from(), or are often returned by various node:fs module callbacks. These types of Buffers use a shared underlying {ArrayBuffer} object that contains all of the data from all of the pooled Buffer instances. When a Buffer, {TypedArray}, or {DataView} is passed in to readableStreamBYOBReader.read(), the view’s underlying ArrayBuffer is detached, invalidating all existing views that may exist on that ArrayBuffer. This can have disastrous consequences for your application.

readableStreamBYOBReader.releaseLock()

Releases this reader’s lock on the underlying {ReadableStream}.

Class: ReadableStreamDefaultController

Every {ReadableStream} has a controller that is responsible for the internal state and management of the stream’s queue. The ReadableStreamDefaultController is the default controller implementation for ReadableStreams that are not byte-oriented.

readableStreamDefaultController.close()

Closes the {ReadableStream} to which this controller is associated.

readableStreamDefaultController.desiredSize

Returns the amount of data remaining to fill the {ReadableStream}’s queue.

readableStreamDefaultController.enqueue([chunk])

Appends a new chunk of data to the {ReadableStream}’s queue.

readableStreamDefaultController.error([error])

Signals an error that causes the {ReadableStream} to error and close.

Class: ReadableByteStreamController

Every {ReadableStream} has a controller that is responsible for the internal state and management of the stream’s queue. The ReadableByteStreamController is for byte-oriented ReadableStreams.

readableByteStreamController.byobRequest

readableByteStreamController.close()

Closes the {ReadableStream} to which this controller is associated.

readableByteStreamController.desiredSize

Returns the amount of data remaining to fill the {ReadableStream}’s queue.

readableByteStreamController.enqueue(chunk)

Appends a new chunk of data to the {ReadableStream}’s queue.

readableByteStreamController.error([error])

Signals an error that causes the {ReadableStream} to error and close.

Class: ReadableStreamBYOBRequest

When using ReadableByteStreamController in byte-oriented streams, and when using the ReadableStreamBYOBReader, the readableByteStreamController.byobRequest property provides access to a ReadableStreamBYOBRequest instance that represents the current read request. The object is used to gain access to the ArrayBuffer/TypedArray that has been provided for the read request to fill, and provides methods for signaling that the data has been provided.

readableStreamBYOBRequest.respond(bytesWritten)

Signals that a bytesWritten number of bytes have been written to readableStreamBYOBRequest.view.

readableStreamBYOBRequest.respondWithNewView(view)

Signals that the request has been fulfilled with bytes written to a new Buffer, TypedArray, or DataView.

readableStreamBYOBRequest.view

Class: WritableStream

The WritableStream is a destination to which stream data is sent.

import {
  WritableStream,
} from 'node:stream/web';

const stream = new WritableStream({
  write(chunk) {
    console.log(chunk);
  },
});

await stream.getWriter().write('Hello World');

new WritableStream([underlyingSink[, strategy]])

writableStream.abort([reason])

Abruptly terminates the WritableStream. All queued writes will be canceled with their associated promises rejected.

writableStream.close()

Closes the WritableStream when no additional writes are expected.

writableStream.getWriter()

Creates and returns a new writer instance that can be used to write data into the WritableStream.

writableStream.locked

The writableStream.locked property is false by default, and is switched to true while there is an active writer attached to this WritableStream.

Transferring with postMessage()

A {WritableStream} instance can be transferred using a {MessagePort}.

const stream = new WritableStream(getWritableSinkSomehow());

const { port1, port2 } = new MessageChannel();

port1.onmessage = ({ data }) => {
  data.getWriter().write('hello');
};

port2.postMessage(stream, [stream]);

Class: WritableStreamDefaultWriter

new WritableStreamDefaultWriter(stream)

Creates a new WritableStreamDefaultWriter that is locked to the given WritableStream.

writableStreamDefaultWriter.abort([reason])

Abruptly terminates the WritableStream. All queued writes will be canceled with their associated promises rejected.

writableStreamDefaultWriter.close()

Closes the WritableStream when no additional writes are expected.

writableStreamDefaultWriter.closed

writableStreamDefaultWriter.desiredSize

The amount of data required to fill the {WritableStream}’s queue.

writableStreamDefaultWriter.ready

writableStreamDefaultWriter.releaseLock()

Releases this writer’s lock on the underlying {ReadableStream}.

writableStreamDefaultWriter.write([chunk])

Appends a new chunk of data to the {WritableStream}’s queue.

Class: WritableStreamDefaultController

The WritableStreamDefaultController manages the {WritableStream}’s internal state.

writableStreamDefaultController.error([error])

Called by user-code to signal that an error has occurred while processing the WritableStream data. When called, the {WritableStream} will be aborted, with currently pending writes canceled.

writableStreamDefaultController.signal

Class: TransformStream

A TransformStream consists of a {ReadableStream} and a {WritableStream} that are connected such that the data written to the WritableStream is received, and potentially transformed, before being pushed into the ReadableStream’s queue.

import {
  TransformStream,
} from 'node:stream/web';

const transform = new TransformStream({
  transform(chunk, controller) {
    controller.enqueue(chunk.toUpperCase());
  },
});

await Promise.all([
  transform.writable.getWriter().write('A'),
  transform.readable.getReader().read(),
]);

new TransformStream([transformer[, writableStrategy[, readableStrategy]]])

transformStream.readable

transformStream.writable

Transferring with postMessage()

A {TransformStream} instance can be transferred using a {MessagePort}.

const stream = new TransformStream();

const { port1, port2 } = new MessageChannel();

port1.onmessage = ({ data }) => {
  const { writable, readable } = data;
  // ...
};

port2.postMessage(stream, [stream]);

Class: TransformStreamDefaultController

The TransformStreamDefaultController manages the internal state of the TransformStream.

transformStreamDefaultController.desiredSize

The amount of data required to fill the readable side’s queue.

transformStreamDefaultController.enqueue([chunk])

Appends a chunk of data to the readable side’s queue.

transformStreamDefaultController.error([reason])

Signals to both the readable and writable side that an error has occurred while processing the transform data, causing both sides to be abruptly closed.

transformStreamDefaultController.terminate()

Closes the readable side of the transport and causes the writable side to be abruptly closed with an error.

Class: ByteLengthQueuingStrategy

new ByteLengthQueuingStrategy(init)

byteLengthQueuingStrategy.highWaterMark

byteLengthQueuingStrategy.size

Class: CountQueuingStrategy

new CountQueuingStrategy(init)

countQueuingStrategy.highWaterMark

countQueuingStrategy.size

Class: TextEncoderStream

new TextEncoderStream()

Creates a new TextEncoderStream instance.

textEncoderStream.encoding

The encoding supported by the TextEncoderStream instance.

textEncoderStream.readable

textEncoderStream.writable

Class: TextDecoderStream

new TextDecoderStream([encoding[, options]])

Creates a new TextDecoderStream instance.

textDecoderStream.encoding

The encoding supported by the TextDecoderStream instance.

textDecoderStream.fatal

The value will be true if decoding errors result in a TypeError being thrown.

textDecoderStream.ignoreBOM

The value will be true if the decoding result will include the byte order mark.

textDecoderStream.readable

textDecoderStream.writable

Class: CompressionStream

new CompressionStream(format)

compressionStream.readable

compressionStream.writable

Class: DecompressionStream

new DecompressionStream(format)

decompressionStream.readable

decompressionStream.writable

Utility Consumers

The utility consumer functions provide common options for consuming streams.

They are accessed using:

import {
  arrayBuffer,
  blob,
  buffer,
  json,
  text,
} from 'node:stream/consumers';
const {
  arrayBuffer,
  blob,
  buffer,
  json,
  text,
} = require('node:stream/consumers');

streamConsumers.arrayBuffer(stream)

import { arrayBuffer } from 'node:stream/consumers';
import { Readable } from 'node:stream';
import { TextEncoder } from 'node:util';

const encoder = new TextEncoder();
const dataArray = encoder.encode('hello world from consumers!');

const readable = Readable.from(dataArray);
const data = await arrayBuffer(readable);
console.log(`from readable: ${data.byteLength}`);
// Prints: from readable: 76
const { arrayBuffer } = require('node:stream/consumers');
const { Readable } = require('node:stream');
const { TextEncoder } = require('node:util');

const encoder = new TextEncoder();
const dataArray = encoder.encode('hello world from consumers!');
const readable = Readable.from(dataArray);
arrayBuffer(readable).then((data) => {
  console.log(`from readable: ${data.byteLength}`);
  // Prints: from readable: 76
});

streamConsumers.blob(stream)

import { blob } from 'node:stream/consumers';

const dataBlob = new Blob(['hello world from consumers!']);

const readable = dataBlob.stream();
const data = await blob(readable);
console.log(`from readable: ${data.size}`);
// Prints: from readable: 27
const { blob } = require('node:stream/consumers');

const dataBlob = new Blob(['hello world from consumers!']);

const readable = dataBlob.stream();
blob(readable).then((data) => {
  console.log(`from readable: ${data.size}`);
  // Prints: from readable: 27
});

streamConsumers.buffer(stream)

import { buffer } from 'node:stream/consumers';
import { Readable } from 'node:stream';
import { Buffer } from 'node:buffer';

const dataBuffer = Buffer.from('hello world from consumers!');

const readable = Readable.from(dataBuffer);
const data = await buffer(readable);
console.log(`from readable: ${data.length}`);
// Prints: from readable: 27
const { buffer } = require('node:stream/consumers');
const { Readable } = require('node:stream');
const { Buffer } = require('node:buffer');

const dataBuffer = Buffer.from('hello world from consumers!');

const readable = Readable.from(dataBuffer);
buffer(readable).then((data) => {
  console.log(`from readable: ${data.length}`);
  // Prints: from readable: 27
});

streamConsumers.bytes(stream)

import { bytes } from 'node:stream/consumers';
import { Readable } from 'node:stream';
import { Buffer } from 'node:buffer';

const dataBuffer = Buffer.from('hello world from consumers!');

const readable = Readable.from(dataBuffer);
const data = await bytes(readable);
console.log(`from readable: ${data.length}`);
// Prints: from readable: 27
const { bytes } = require('node:stream/consumers');
const { Readable } = require('node:stream');
const { Buffer } = require('node:buffer');

const dataBuffer = Buffer.from('hello world from consumers!');

const readable = Readable.from(dataBuffer);
bytes(readable).then((data) => {
  console.log(`from readable: ${data.length}`);
  // Prints: from readable: 27
});

streamConsumers.json(stream)

import { json } from 'node:stream/consumers';
import { Readable } from 'node:stream';

const items = Array.from(
  {
    length: 100,
  },
  () => ({
    message: 'hello world from consumers!',
  }),
);

const readable = Readable.from(JSON.stringify(items));
const data = await json(readable);
console.log(`from readable: ${data.length}`);
// Prints: from readable: 100
const { json } = require('node:stream/consumers');
const { Readable } = require('node:stream');

const items = Array.from(
  {
    length: 100,
  },
  () => ({
    message: 'hello world from consumers!',
  }),
);

const readable = Readable.from(JSON.stringify(items));
json(readable).then((data) => {
  console.log(`from readable: ${data.length}`);
  // Prints: from readable: 100
});

streamConsumers.text(stream)

import { text } from 'node:stream/consumers';
import { Readable } from 'node:stream';

const readable = Readable.from('Hello world from consumers!');
const data = await text(readable);
console.log(`from readable: ${data.length}`);
// Prints: from readable: 27
const { text } = require('node:stream/consumers');
const { Readable } = require('node:stream');

const readable = Readable.from('Hello world from consumers!');
text(readable).then((data) => {
  console.log(`from readable: ${data.length}`);
  // Prints: from readable: 27
});