Difference between Node.js Buffers and Typed Arrays

In the world of JavaScript and Node.js, buffers and typed arrays are the two basic mechanisms for handling binary data. In this article, we will discuss the difference between Node.js Buffers and Typed Arrays. Before discussing their differences, we must know about the Buffers and Types Arrays.

What is the Node.js Buffer?

In Node.js, a Buffer is a worldwide object that works with unformatted binary information. It offers a means of handling binary data streams, including reading from a file or a data stream over a network. More generally, buffers are advantageous while handling binary data since direct memory access is often needed in such cases.

Characteristics of Buffers:

Several characteristics of buffers are as follows:

1. Fixed Size:
   There is a fixed number of objects allowed in a buffer, which are predetermined at the time of creating the buffer. It means that once they have been assigned such a size, they can never be changed again.
2. Direct Memory Access:
   If buffers are made direct memory access, it can have better outcomes at the time of working with more sets.
3. Node.js Specific:
   Buffers are concept-specific to Node.js and are not obtainable in regular JS frameworks.
4. Data Encoding and Decoding:
   Buffers can be easily encoded and decoded to and from various formats like UTF-8, ASCII, Base64, etc, through methods like toString() and Buffer. from().
5. Slicing and Sub-buffering:
   A Buffer can be split into other Buffers without copying actual data, which helps work with some parts of binary data.
6. Performance:
   Buffers are designed in a way with special considerations towards performance and usage of memory in node.js. They are best applied in high-performance circumstances where elementary data processing is necessary.

Use case of Buffers:

Several use cases of Buffers are as follows:

• Streaming Data: In read or write stream scenarios where data is read or written in chunks, buffers are very essential. For instance, processing and dealing with data in the form of streaming video or audio data.
• Cryptography: Delays are applied to cryptographic processes, such as, hashing and encryption, in which raw binary data inputs are utilized.

What is Node.js Typed Array?

Typed Arrays are a part of ECMAScript and have been developed to improve the working with binary data more structured than Buffers. They afford a look at a secondary binary data storage block having a definite data type.

Characteristics of Typed Arrays:

Several characteristics of Typed arrays are as follows:

1. Variety of Types:
   Typed Arrays are variants and among the common variants, including Int8Array, Uint8Array, Float32Array, and so on, all of which work with different data types and sizes.
2. JavaScript Standard:
   Typed Arrays are available in any JavaScript environment and not just Node.js.
3. Array-Like Methods:
   The main benefit of Typed Arrays is that they inherit methods from the Array prototype, such as map(), filter(), and reduce() resulting in them being more suitable for all forms of array-based operations.
4. DataView:
   DataView allows passing multiple types of data as well as reading and writing an ArrayBuffer while using the more types-friendly approach to binary data manipulation.

Use cases of Typed Arrays:

Several use cases of Typed Arrays are as follows:

• WebAssembly: Typed Arrays are also utilized together with WebAssembly for communication and manipulation of binary data in high-performance scenarios.
• Image Processing: In cases where pixel data is used, like making bitmap images, or processing an image, Typed Arrays are used because they can accommodate large amounts of binary data.
• Scientific Computing: Typed Arrays are best used in applications where the work is to be done on large databases of numbers and where repetitive computation is required as in simulation or data analysis, machine learning, etc.
• Data Serialization: Typed Arrays can be used for serialization of binary data and different views can be bound with the same typed array data buffer depending upon the requirement.

Differences between Node.js Buffers and Typed Arrays

There are several key differences between Node.js Buffers and Typed Arrays. Some main differences are as follows: