Question 1

How do I encrypt a message with js-nacl in the browser?

Accepted Answer

Instantiate the module using nacl_factory.instantiate, then use crypto_box with a random nonce from crypto_box_random_nonce and keypairs. Encode the message to Uint8Array with encode_utf8, and follow the example in the README for public-key authenticated encryption.

Question 2

js-nacl vs libsodium.js: which is better for JavaScript?

Accepted Answer

js-nacl is a pure JavaScript wrapper of libsodium via Emscripten, offering a high-level API similar to NaCl. Libsodium.js is another port but may have different performance characteristics. js-nacl is praised for its strict data handling, but compare benchmarks and API preferences for your project.

Question 3

How to handle nonces securely in js-nacl?

Accepted Answer

Always use the provided random_nonce functions like crypto_box_random_nonce to generate unique nonces for each operation. The README emphasizes following NaCl's security model to prevent reuse, which is critical for maintaining encryption integrity.

Question 4

Does js-nacl support WebAssembly?

Accepted Answer

Yes, since version 1.3.0, js-nacl uses Emscripten with WebAssembly by default, improving performance over older asm.js builds. However, this can increase memory usage, and heap management is automatic as described in the README.

Question 5

How to convert strings to binary in js-nacl?

Accepted Answer

Use the encoding utilities such as nacl.encode_utf8 for UTF-8 strings or nacl.encode_latin1 for 8-bit clean encoding. These return Uint8Array instances required for all cryptographic functions, ensuring proper data separation.

Question 6

Is js-nacl safe for production use?

Accepted Answer

Yes, it's based on libsodium, a well-audited cryptographic library, and the JavaScript wrapper is stable with regular updates. However, monitor memory usage and test in target environments due to compatibility issues noted in the README.

js-nacl

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