Question 1

How to use Buffer in the browser with webpack?

Accepted Answer

Install the buffer package via npm and require it explicitly using `require('buffer/').Buffer` to avoid conflicts with Node.js core. Configure webpack to handle Node.js modules, and consider adding it as an alias if needed for compatibility.

Question 2

Buffer vs Uint8Array: which is faster for binary data?

Accepted Answer

Uint8Array generally outperforms Buffer in raw operations like concat and copy, as shown in the README's benchmarks. However, Buffer is essential if you need the full Node.js API for npm module compatibility or code portability.

Question 3

How do I convert a Blob to a Buffer in JavaScript?

Accepted Answer

Use the `blob-to-buffer` npm package recommended in the README for efficient conversion. Alternatively, you can create a new Blob from a Buffer with `new Blob([buffer])`, but this may involve copying data.

Question 4

Is the buffer library still needed for modern web apps?

Accepted Answer

Modern browsers support Typed Arrays natively, so if you only need basic binary operations, Uint8Array might suffice. But buffer is crucial for projects using npm modules that depend on Node.js Buffer API or for isomorphic code.

Question 5

What's the impact of buffer on my web app's load time?

Accepted Answer

The library adds about 6.75KB minified + gzipped, which is small but not zero. For performance-sensitive applications, weigh this against the benefit of Node.js API compatibility.

Question 6

How to install buffer without a bundler like Browserify?

Accepted Answer

Use the standalone script from bundle.run or include it via a CDN. Install via `npm install buffer` and manually include it in your HTML, but note that direct usage requires careful handling to avoid global conflicts.

buffer

What is buffer?

Overview

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Pros & Cons

Pros

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Frequently Asked Questions