This class is an abstraction of a TCP socket or a streaming IPC endpoint (uses named pipes on Windows, and Unix domain sockets otherwise). It is also an EventEmitter.

A net.Socket can be created by the user and used directly to interact with a server. For example, it is returned by createConnection, so the user can use it to talk to the server.

It can also be created by Node.js and passed to the user when a connection is received. For example, it is passed to the listeners of a 'connection' event emitted on a Server, so the user can use it to interact with the client.

Since

v0.3.4

Hierarchy

Constructors

Properties

allowHalfOpen: boolean

If false then the stream will automatically end the writable side when the readable side ends. Set initially by the allowHalfOpen constructor option, which defaults to false.

This can be changed manually to change the half-open behavior of an existingDuplex stream instance, but must be changed before the 'end' event is emitted.

Since

v0.9.4

bufferSize: number

This property shows the number of characters buffered for writing. The buffer may contain strings whose length after encoding is not yet known. So this number is only an approximation of the number of bytes in the buffer.

net.Socket has the property that socket.write() always works. This is to help users get up and running quickly. The computer cannot always keep up with the amount of data that is written to a socket. The network connection simply might be too slow. Node.js will internally queue up the data written to a socket and send it out over the wire when it is possible.

The consequence of this internal buffering is that memory may grow. Users who experience large or growing bufferSize should attempt to "throttle" the data flows in their program with socket.pause() and socket.resume().

Since

v0.3.8

Deprecated

Since v14.6.0 - Use writableLength instead.

bytesRead: number

The amount of received bytes.

Since

v0.5.3

bytesWritten: number

The amount of bytes sent.

Since

v0.5.3

closed: boolean

Is true after 'close' has been emitted.

Since

v18.0.0

connecting: boolean

If true,socket.connect(options[, connectListener]) was called and has not yet finished. It will stay true until the socket becomes connected, then it is set to false and the 'connect' event is emitted. Note that the socket.connect(options[, connectListener]) callback is a listener for the 'connect' event.

Since

v6.1.0

destroyed: boolean

See writable.destroyed for further details.

errored: null | Error

Returns error if the stream has been destroyed with an error.

Since

v18.0.0

localAddress?: string

The string representation of the local IP address the remote client is connecting on. For example, in a server listening on '0.0.0.0', if a client connects on '192.168.1.1', the value of socket.localAddress would be'192.168.1.1'.

Since

v0.9.6

localFamily?: string

The string representation of the local IP family. 'IPv4' or 'IPv6'.

Since

v18.8.0

localPort?: number

The numeric representation of the local port. For example, 80 or 21.

Since

v0.9.6

readable: boolean

Is true if it is safe to call readable.read(), which means the stream has not been destroyed or emitted 'error' or 'end'.

Since

v11.4.0

readableAborted: boolean

Returns whether the stream was destroyed or errored before emitting 'end'.

Since

v16.8.0

readableDidRead: boolean

Returns whether 'data' has been emitted.

Since

v16.7.0, v14.18.0

readableEncoding: null | BufferEncoding

Getter for the property encoding of a given Readable stream. The encodingproperty can be set using the readable.setEncoding() method.

Since

v12.7.0

readableEnded: boolean

Becomes true when 'end' event is emitted.

Since

v12.9.0

readableFlowing: null | boolean

This property reflects the current state of a Readable stream as described in the Three states section.

Since

v9.4.0

readableHighWaterMark: number

Returns the value of highWaterMark passed when creating this Readable.

Since

v9.3.0

readableLength: number

This property contains the number of bytes (or objects) in the queue ready to be read. The value provides introspection data regarding the status of the highWaterMark.

Since

v9.4.0

readableObjectMode: boolean

Getter for the property objectMode of a given Readable stream.

Since

v12.3.0

readyState: SocketReadyState

This property represents the state of the connection as a string.

See

Since

v0.5.0

remoteAddress?: string

The string representation of the remote IP address. For example,'74.125.127.100' or '2001:4860:a005::68'. Value may be undefined if the socket is destroyed (for example, if the client disconnected).

Since

v0.5.10

remoteFamily?: string

The string representation of the remote IP family. 'IPv4' or 'IPv6'.

Since

v0.11.14

remotePort?: number

The numeric representation of the remote port. For example, 80 or 21.

Since

v0.5.10

timeout?: number

The socket timeout in milliseconds as set by socket.setTimeout(). It is undefined if a timeout has not been set.

Since

v10.7.0

writable: boolean

Is true if it is safe to call writable.write(), which means the stream has not been destroyed, errored or ended.

Since

v11.4.0

writableCorked: number

Number of times writable.uncork() needs to be called in order to fully uncork the stream.

Since

v13.2.0, v12.16.0

writableEnded: boolean

Is true after writable.end() has been called. This property does not indicate whether the data has been flushed, for this use writable.writableFinished instead.

Since

v12.9.0

writableFinished: boolean

Is set to true immediately before the 'finish' event is emitted.

Since

v12.6.0

writableHighWaterMark: number

Return the value of highWaterMark passed when creating this Writable.

Since

v9.3.0

writableLength: number

This property contains the number of bytes (or objects) in the queue ready to be written. The value provides introspection data regarding the status of the highWaterMark.

Since

v9.4.0

writableNeedDrain: boolean

Is true if the stream's buffer has been full and stream will emit 'drain'.

Since

v15.2.0, v14.17.0

writableObjectMode: boolean

Getter for the property objectMode of a given Writable stream.

Since

v12.3.0

captureRejectionSymbol: typeof captureRejectionSymbol
captureRejections: boolean

TODO: These should be described using static getter/setter pairs:

defaultMaxListeners: number
errorMonitor: typeof errorMonitor

This symbol shall be used to install a listener for only monitoring 'error' events. Listeners installed using this symbol are called before the regular 'error' listeners are called.

Installing a listener using this symbol does not change the behavior once an 'error' event is emitted, therefore the process will still crash if no regular 'error' listener is installed.

Methods

  • Parameters

    • callback: ((error?: null | Error) => void)
        • (error?: null | Error): void
        • Parameters

          • Optional error: null | Error

          Returns void

    Returns void

  • Parameters

    • error: null | Error
    • callback: ((error: null | Error) => void)
        • (error: null | Error): void
        • Parameters

          Returns void

    Returns void

  • Parameters

    • callback: ((error?: null | Error) => void)
        • (error?: null | Error): void
        • Parameters

          • Optional error: null | Error

          Returns void

    Returns void

  • Parameters

    • size: number

    Returns void

  • Parameters

    • chunk: any
    • encoding: BufferEncoding
    • callback: ((error?: null | Error) => void)
        • (error?: null | Error): void
        • Parameters

          • Optional error: null | Error

          Returns void

    Returns void

  • Parameters

    • chunks: {
          chunk: any;
          encoding: BufferEncoding;
      }[]
    • callback: ((error?: null | Error) => void)
        • (error?: null | Error): void
        • Parameters

          • Optional error: null | Error

          Returns void

    Returns void

  • events.EventEmitter

    1. close
    2. connect
    3. data
    4. drain
    5. end
    6. error
    7. lookup
    8. ready
    9. timeout

    Parameters

    • event: string
    • listener: ((...args: any[]) => void)
        • (...args: any[]): void
        • Parameters

          • Rest ...args: any[]

          Returns void

    Returns Socket

  • Parameters

    • event: "close"
    • listener: ((hadError: boolean) => void)
        • (hadError: boolean): void
        • Parameters

          • hadError: boolean

          Returns void

    Returns Socket

  • Parameters

    • event: "connect"
    • listener: (() => void)
        • (): void
        • Returns void

    Returns Socket

  • Parameters

    • event: "data"
    • listener: ((data: Buffer) => void)

    Returns Socket

  • Parameters

    • event: "drain"
    • listener: (() => void)
        • (): void
        • Returns void

    Returns Socket

  • Parameters

    • event: "end"
    • listener: (() => void)
        • (): void
        • Returns void

    Returns Socket

  • Parameters

    • event: "error"
    • listener: ((err: Error) => void)
        • (err: Error): void
        • Parameters

          Returns void

    Returns Socket

  • Parameters

    • event: "lookup"
    • listener: ((err: Error, address: string, family: string | number, host: string) => void)
        • (err: Error, address: string, family: string | number, host: string): void
        • Parameters

          • err: Error
          • address: string
          • family: string | number
          • host: string

          Returns void

    Returns Socket

  • Parameters

    • event: "ready"
    • listener: (() => void)
        • (): void
        • Returns void

    Returns Socket

  • Parameters

    • event: "timeout"
    • listener: (() => void)
        • (): void
        • Returns void

    Returns Socket

  • Returns the bound address, the address family name and port of the socket as reported by the operating system:{ port: 12346, family: 'IPv4', address: '127.0.0.1' }

    Since

    v0.1.90

    Returns {} | AddressInfo

  • Initiate a connection on a given socket.

    Possible signatures:

    • socket.connect(options[, connectListener])
    • socket.connect(path[, connectListener]) for IPC connections.
    • socket.connect(port[, host][, connectListener]) for TCP connections.
    • Returns: net.Socket The socket itself.

    This function is asynchronous. When the connection is established, the 'connect' event will be emitted. If there is a problem connecting, instead of a 'connect' event, an 'error' event will be emitted with the error passed to the 'error' listener. The last parameter connectListener, if supplied, will be added as a listener for the 'connect' event once.

    This function should only be used for reconnecting a socket after'close' has been emitted or otherwise it may lead to undefined behavior.

    Parameters

    • options: SocketConnectOpts
    • Optional connectionListener: (() => void)
        • (): void
        • Returns void

    Returns Socket

  • Parameters

    • port: number
    • host: string
    • Optional connectionListener: (() => void)
        • (): void
        • Returns void

    Returns Socket

  • Parameters

    • port: number
    • Optional connectionListener: (() => void)
        • (): void
        • Returns void

    Returns Socket

  • Parameters

    • path: string
    • Optional connectionListener: (() => void)
        • (): void
        • Returns void

    Returns Socket

  • The writable.cork() method forces all written data to be buffered in memory. The buffered data will be flushed when either the uncork or end methods are called.

    The primary intent of writable.cork() is to accommodate a situation in which several small chunks are written to the stream in rapid succession. Instead of immediately forwarding them to the underlying destination, writable.cork()buffers all the chunks until writable.uncork() is called, which will pass them all to writable._writev(), if present. This prevents a head-of-line blocking situation where data is being buffered while waiting for the first small chunk to be processed. However, use of writable.cork() without implementingwritable._writev() may have an adverse effect on throughput.

    See also: writable.uncork(), writable._writev().

    Since

    v0.11.2

    Returns void

  • Destroy the stream. Optionally emit an 'error' event, and emit a 'close'event (unless emitClose is set to false). After this call, the readable stream will release any internal resources and subsequent calls to push()will be ignored.

    Once destroy() has been called any further calls will be a no-op and no further errors except from _destroy() may be emitted as 'error'.

    Implementors should not override this method, but instead implement readable._destroy().

    Since

    v8.0.0

    Parameters

    • Optional error: Error

      Error which will be passed as payload in 'error' event

    Returns Socket

  • Synchronously calls each of the listeners registered for the event namedeventName, in the order they were registered, passing the supplied arguments to each.

    Returns true if the event had listeners, false otherwise.

    const EventEmitter = require('events');
    const myEmitter = new EventEmitter();

    // First listener
    myEmitter.on('event', function firstListener() {
    console.log('Helloooo! first listener');
    });
    // Second listener
    myEmitter.on('event', function secondListener(arg1, arg2) {
    console.log(`event with parameters ${arg1}, ${arg2} in second listener`);
    });
    // Third listener
    myEmitter.on('event', function thirdListener(...args) {
    const parameters = args.join(', ');
    console.log(`event with parameters ${parameters} in third listener`);
    });

    console.log(myEmitter.listeners('event'));

    myEmitter.emit('event', 1, 2, 3, 4, 5);

    // Prints:
    // [
    // [Function: firstListener],
    // [Function: secondListener],
    // [Function: thirdListener]
    // ]
    // Helloooo! first listener
    // event with parameters 1, 2 in second listener
    // event with parameters 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 in third listener

    Since

    v0.1.26

    Parameters

    • event: string | symbol
    • Rest ...args: any[]

    Returns boolean

  • Parameters

    • event: "close"
    • hadError: boolean

    Returns boolean

  • Parameters

    • event: "connect"

    Returns boolean

  • Parameters

    Returns boolean

  • Parameters

    • event: "drain"

    Returns boolean

  • Parameters

    • event: "end"

    Returns boolean

  • Parameters

    • event: "error"
    • err: Error

    Returns boolean

  • Parameters

    • event: "lookup"
    • err: Error
    • address: string
    • family: string | number
    • host: string

    Returns boolean

  • Parameters

    • event: "ready"

    Returns boolean

  • Parameters

    • event: "timeout"

    Returns boolean

  • Half-closes the socket. i.e., it sends a FIN packet. It is possible the server will still send some data.

    See writable.end() for further details.

    Since

    v0.1.90

    Returns

    The socket itself.

    Parameters

    • Optional callback: (() => void)

      Optional callback for when the socket is finished.

        • (): void
        • Returns void

    Returns Socket

  • Parameters

    • buffer: string | Uint8Array
    • Optional callback: (() => void)
        • (): void
        • Returns void

    Returns Socket

  • Parameters

    • str: string | Uint8Array
    • Optional encoding: BufferEncoding
    • Optional callback: (() => void)
        • (): void
        • Returns void

    Returns Socket

  • Returns an array listing the events for which the emitter has registered listeners. The values in the array are strings or Symbols.

    const EventEmitter = require('events');
    const myEE = new EventEmitter();
    myEE.on('foo', () => {});
    myEE.on('bar', () => {});

    const sym = Symbol('symbol');
    myEE.on(sym, () => {});

    console.log(myEE.eventNames());
    // Prints: [ 'foo', 'bar', Symbol(symbol) ]

    Since

    v6.0.0

    Returns (string | symbol)[]

  • Returns the current max listener value for the EventEmitter which is either set by emitter.setMaxListeners(n) or defaults to defaultMaxListeners.

    Since

    v1.0.0

    Returns number

  • The readable.isPaused() method returns the current operating state of theReadable. This is used primarily by the mechanism that underlies thereadable.pipe() method. In most typical cases, there will be no reason to use this method directly.

    const readable = new stream.Readable();

    readable.isPaused(); // === false
    readable.pause();
    readable.isPaused(); // === true
    readable.resume();
    readable.isPaused(); // === false

    Since

    v0.11.14

    Returns boolean

  • Returns the number of listeners listening to the event named eventName.

    Since

    v3.2.0

    Parameters

    • eventName: string | symbol

      The name of the event being listened for

    Returns number

  • Returns a copy of the array of listeners for the event named eventName.

    server.on('connection', (stream) => {
    console.log('someone connected!');
    });
    console.log(util.inspect(server.listeners('connection')));
    // Prints: [ [Function] ]

    Since

    v0.1.26

    Parameters

    • eventName: string | symbol

    Returns Function[]

  • Alias for emitter.removeListener().

    Since

    v10.0.0

    Parameters

    • eventName: string | symbol
    • listener: ((...args: any[]) => void)
        • (...args: any[]): void
        • Parameters

          • Rest ...args: any[]

          Returns void

    Returns Socket

  • Adds the listener function to the end of the listeners array for the event named eventName. No checks are made to see if the listener has already been added. Multiple calls passing the same combination of eventNameand listener will result in the listener being added, and called, multiple times.

    server.on('connection', (stream) => {
    console.log('someone connected!');
    });

    Returns a reference to the EventEmitter, so that calls can be chained.

    By default, event listeners are invoked in the order they are added. Theemitter.prependListener() method can be used as an alternative to add the event listener to the beginning of the listeners array.

    const myEE = new EventEmitter();
    myEE.on('foo', () => console.log('a'));
    myEE.prependListener('foo', () => console.log('b'));
    myEE.emit('foo');
    // Prints:
    // b
    // a

    Since

    v0.1.101

    Parameters

    • event: string

      The name of the event.

    • listener: ((...args: any[]) => void)

      The callback function

        • (...args: any[]): void
        • Parameters

          • Rest ...args: any[]

          Returns void

    Returns Socket

  • Parameters

    • event: "close"
    • listener: ((hadError: boolean) => void)
        • (hadError: boolean): void
        • Parameters

          • hadError: boolean

          Returns void

    Returns Socket

  • Parameters

    • event: "connect"
    • listener: (() => void)
        • (): void
        • Returns void

    Returns Socket

  • Parameters

    • event: "data"
    • listener: ((data: Buffer) => void)

    Returns Socket

  • Parameters

    • event: "drain"
    • listener: (() => void)
        • (): void
        • Returns void

    Returns Socket

  • Parameters

    • event: "end"
    • listener: (() => void)
        • (): void
        • Returns void

    Returns Socket

  • Parameters

    • event: "error"
    • listener: ((err: Error) => void)
        • (err: Error): void
        • Parameters

          Returns void

    Returns Socket

  • Parameters

    • event: "lookup"
    • listener: ((err: Error, address: string, family: string | number, host: string) => void)
        • (err: Error, address: string, family: string | number, host: string): void
        • Parameters

          • err: Error
          • address: string
          • family: string | number
          • host: string

          Returns void

    Returns Socket

  • Parameters

    • event: "ready"
    • listener: (() => void)
        • (): void
        • Returns void

    Returns Socket

  • Parameters

    • event: "timeout"
    • listener: (() => void)
        • (): void
        • Returns void

    Returns Socket

  • Adds a one-timelistener function for the event named eventName. The next time eventName is triggered, this listener is removed and then invoked.

    server.once('connection', (stream) => {
    console.log('Ah, we have our first user!');
    });

    Returns a reference to the EventEmitter, so that calls can be chained.

    By default, event listeners are invoked in the order they are added. Theemitter.prependOnceListener() method can be used as an alternative to add the event listener to the beginning of the listeners array.

    const myEE = new EventEmitter();
    myEE.once('foo', () => console.log('a'));
    myEE.prependOnceListener('foo', () => console.log('b'));
    myEE.emit('foo');
    // Prints:
    // b
    // a

    Since

    v0.3.0

    Parameters

    • event: string

      The name of the event.

    • listener: ((...args: any[]) => void)

      The callback function

        • (...args: any[]): void
        • Parameters

          • Rest ...args: any[]

          Returns void

    Returns Socket

  • Parameters

    • event: "close"
    • listener: ((hadError: boolean) => void)
        • (hadError: boolean): void
        • Parameters

          • hadError: boolean

          Returns void

    Returns Socket

  • Parameters

    • event: "connect"
    • listener: (() => void)
        • (): void
        • Returns void

    Returns Socket

  • Parameters

    • event: "data"
    • listener: ((data: Buffer) => void)

    Returns Socket

  • Parameters

    • event: "drain"
    • listener: (() => void)
        • (): void
        • Returns void

    Returns Socket

  • Parameters

    • event: "end"
    • listener: (() => void)
        • (): void
        • Returns void

    Returns Socket

  • Parameters

    • event: "error"
    • listener: ((err: Error) => void)
        • (err: Error): void
        • Parameters

          Returns void

    Returns Socket

  • Parameters

    • event: "lookup"
    • listener: ((err: Error, address: string, family: string | number, host: string) => void)
        • (err: Error, address: string, family: string | number, host: string): void
        • Parameters

          • err: Error
          • address: string
          • family: string | number
          • host: string

          Returns void

    Returns Socket

  • Parameters

    • event: "ready"
    • listener: (() => void)
        • (): void
        • Returns void

    Returns Socket

  • Parameters

    • event: "timeout"
    • listener: (() => void)
        • (): void
        • Returns void

    Returns Socket

  • Pauses the reading of data. That is, 'data' events will not be emitted. Useful to throttle back an upload.

    Returns

    The socket itself.

    Returns Socket

  • Type Parameters

    • T extends WritableStream<T>

    Parameters

    • destination: T
    • Optional options: {
          end?: boolean;
      }
      • Optional end?: boolean

    Returns T

  • Adds the listener function to the beginning of the listeners array for the event named eventName. No checks are made to see if the listener has already been added. Multiple calls passing the same combination of eventNameand listener will result in the listener being added, and called, multiple times.

    server.prependListener('connection', (stream) => {
    console.log('someone connected!');
    });

    Returns a reference to the EventEmitter, so that calls can be chained.

    Since

    v6.0.0

    Parameters

    • event: string

      The name of the event.

    • listener: ((...args: any[]) => void)

      The callback function

        • (...args: any[]): void
        • Parameters

          • Rest ...args: any[]

          Returns void

    Returns Socket

  • Parameters

    • event: "close"
    • listener: ((hadError: boolean) => void)
        • (hadError: boolean): void
        • Parameters

          • hadError: boolean

          Returns void

    Returns Socket

  • Parameters

    • event: "connect"
    • listener: (() => void)
        • (): void
        • Returns void

    Returns Socket

  • Parameters

    • event: "data"
    • listener: ((data: Buffer) => void)

    Returns Socket

  • Parameters

    • event: "drain"
    • listener: (() => void)
        • (): void
        • Returns void

    Returns Socket

  • Parameters

    • event: "end"
    • listener: (() => void)
        • (): void
        • Returns void

    Returns Socket

  • Parameters

    • event: "error"
    • listener: ((err: Error) => void)
        • (err: Error): void
        • Parameters

          Returns void

    Returns Socket

  • Parameters

    • event: "lookup"
    • listener: ((err: Error, address: string, family: string | number, host: string) => void)
        • (err: Error, address: string, family: string | number, host: string): void
        • Parameters

          • err: Error
          • address: string
          • family: string | number
          • host: string

          Returns void

    Returns Socket

  • Parameters

    • event: "ready"
    • listener: (() => void)
        • (): void
        • Returns void

    Returns Socket

  • Parameters

    • event: "timeout"
    • listener: (() => void)
        • (): void
        • Returns void

    Returns Socket

  • Adds a one-timelistener function for the event named eventName to the beginning of the listeners array. The next time eventName is triggered, this listener is removed, and then invoked.

    server.prependOnceListener('connection', (stream) => {
    console.log('Ah, we have our first user!');
    });

    Returns a reference to the EventEmitter, so that calls can be chained.

    Since

    v6.0.0

    Parameters

    • event: string

      The name of the event.

    • listener: ((...args: any[]) => void)

      The callback function

        • (...args: any[]): void
        • Parameters

          • Rest ...args: any[]

          Returns void

    Returns Socket

  • Parameters

    • event: "close"
    • listener: ((hadError: boolean) => void)
        • (hadError: boolean): void
        • Parameters

          • hadError: boolean

          Returns void

    Returns Socket

  • Parameters

    • event: "connect"
    • listener: (() => void)
        • (): void
        • Returns void

    Returns Socket

  • Parameters

    • event: "data"
    • listener: ((data: Buffer) => void)

    Returns Socket

  • Parameters

    • event: "drain"
    • listener: (() => void)
        • (): void
        • Returns void

    Returns Socket

  • Parameters

    • event: "end"
    • listener: (() => void)
        • (): void
        • Returns void

    Returns Socket

  • Parameters

    • event: "error"
    • listener: ((err: Error) => void)
        • (err: Error): void
        • Parameters

          Returns void

    Returns Socket

  • Parameters

    • event: "lookup"
    • listener: ((err: Error, address: string, family: string | number, host: string) => void)
        • (err: Error, address: string, family: string | number, host: string): void
        • Parameters

          • err: Error
          • address: string
          • family: string | number
          • host: string

          Returns void

    Returns Socket

  • Parameters

    • event: "ready"
    • listener: (() => void)
        • (): void
        • Returns void

    Returns Socket

  • Parameters

    • event: "timeout"
    • listener: (() => void)
        • (): void
        • Returns void

    Returns Socket

  • Parameters

    Returns boolean

  • Returns a copy of the array of listeners for the event named eventName, including any wrappers (such as those created by .once()).

    const emitter = new EventEmitter();
    emitter.once('log', () => console.log('log once'));

    // Returns a new Array with a function `onceWrapper` which has a property
    // `listener` which contains the original listener bound above
    const listeners = emitter.rawListeners('log');
    const logFnWrapper = listeners[0];

    // Logs "log once" to the console and does not unbind the `once` event
    logFnWrapper.listener();

    // Logs "log once" to the console and removes the listener
    logFnWrapper();

    emitter.on('log', () => console.log('log persistently'));
    // Will return a new Array with a single function bound by `.on()` above
    const newListeners = emitter.rawListeners('log');

    // Logs "log persistently" twice
    newListeners[0]();
    emitter.emit('log');

    Since

    v9.4.0

    Parameters

    • eventName: string | symbol

    Returns Function[]

  • The readable.read() method reads data out of the internal buffer and returns it. If no data is available to be read, null is returned. By default, the data is returned as a Buffer object unless an encoding has been specified using the readable.setEncoding() method or the stream is operating in object mode.

    The optional size argument specifies a specific number of bytes to read. Ifsize bytes are not available to be read, null will be returned _unless_the stream has ended, in which case all of the data remaining in the internal buffer will be returned.

    If the size argument is not specified, all of the data contained in the internal buffer will be returned.

    The size argument must be less than or equal to 1 GiB.

    The readable.read() method should only be called on Readable streams operating in paused mode. In flowing mode, readable.read() is called automatically until the internal buffer is fully drained.

    const readable = getReadableStreamSomehow();

    // 'readable' may be triggered multiple times as data is buffered in
    readable.on('readable', () => {
    let chunk;
    console.log('Stream is readable (new data received in buffer)');
    // Use a loop to make sure we read all currently available data
    while (null !== (chunk = readable.read())) {
    console.log(`Read ${chunk.length} bytes of data...`);
    }
    });

    // 'end' will be triggered once when there is no more data available
    readable.on('end', () => {
    console.log('Reached end of stream.');
    });

    Each call to readable.read() returns a chunk of data, or null. The chunks are not concatenated. A while loop is necessary to consume all data currently in the buffer. When reading a large file .read() may return null, having consumed all buffered content so far, but there is still more data to come not yet buffered. In this case a new 'readable' event will be emitted when there is more data in the buffer. Finally the 'end' event will be emitted when there is no more data to come.

    Therefore to read a file's whole contents from a readable, it is necessary to collect chunks across multiple 'readable' events:

    const chunks = [];

    readable.on('readable', () => {
    let chunk;
    while (null !== (chunk = readable.read())) {
    chunks.push(chunk);
    }
    });

    readable.on('end', () => {
    const content = chunks.join('');
    });

    A Readable stream in object mode will always return a single item from a call to readable.read(size), regardless of the value of thesize argument.

    If the readable.read() method returns a chunk of data, a 'data' event will also be emitted.

    Calling read after the 'end' event has been emitted will return null. No runtime error will be raised.

    Since

    v0.9.4

    Parameters

    • Optional size: number

      Optional argument to specify how much data to read.

    Returns any

  • Opposite of unref(), calling ref() on a previously unrefed socket will not let the program exit if it's the only socket left (the default behavior). If the socket is refed calling ref again will have no effect.

    Since

    v0.9.1

    Returns

    The socket itself.

    Returns Socket

  • Removes all listeners, or those of the specified eventName.

    It is bad practice to remove listeners added elsewhere in the code, particularly when the EventEmitter instance was created by some other component or module (e.g. sockets or file streams).

    Returns a reference to the EventEmitter, so that calls can be chained.

    Since

    v0.1.26

    Parameters

    • Optional event: string | symbol

    Returns Socket

  • Removes the specified listener from the listener array for the event namedeventName.

    const callback = (stream) => {
    console.log('someone connected!');
    };
    server.on('connection', callback);
    // ...
    server.removeListener('connection', callback);

    removeListener() will remove, at most, one instance of a listener from the listener array. If any single listener has been added multiple times to the listener array for the specified eventName, then removeListener() must be called multiple times to remove each instance.

    Once an event is emitted, all listeners attached to it at the time of emitting are called in order. This implies that anyremoveListener() or removeAllListeners() calls after emitting and before the last listener finishes execution will not remove them fromemit() in progress. Subsequent events behave as expected.

    const myEmitter = new MyEmitter();

    const callbackA = () => {
    console.log('A');
    myEmitter.removeListener('event', callbackB);
    };

    const callbackB = () => {
    console.log('B');
    };

    myEmitter.on('event', callbackA);

    myEmitter.on('event', callbackB);

    // callbackA removes listener callbackB but it will still be called.
    // Internal listener array at time of emit [callbackA, callbackB]
    myEmitter.emit('event');
    // Prints:
    // A
    // B

    // callbackB is now removed.
    // Internal listener array [callbackA]
    myEmitter.emit('event');
    // Prints:
    // A

    Because listeners are managed using an internal array, calling this will change the position indices of any listener registered after the listener being removed. This will not impact the order in which listeners are called, but it means that any copies of the listener array as returned by the emitter.listeners() method will need to be recreated.

    When a single function has been added as a handler multiple times for a single event (as in the example below), removeListener() will remove the most recently added instance. In the example the once('ping')listener is removed:

    const ee = new EventEmitter();

    function pong() {
    console.log('pong');
    }

    ee.on('ping', pong);
    ee.once('ping', pong);
    ee.removeListener('ping', pong);

    ee.emit('ping');
    ee.emit('ping');

    Returns a reference to the EventEmitter, so that calls can be chained.

    Since

    v0.1.26

    Parameters

    • event: "close"
    • listener: (() => void)
        • (): void
        • Returns void

    Returns Socket

  • Parameters

    • event: "data"
    • listener: ((chunk: any) => void)
        • (chunk: any): void
        • Parameters

          • chunk: any

          Returns void

    Returns Socket

  • Parameters

    • event: "end"
    • listener: (() => void)
        • (): void
        • Returns void

    Returns Socket

  • Parameters

    • event: "error"
    • listener: ((err: Error) => void)
        • (err: Error): void
        • Parameters

          Returns void

    Returns Socket

  • Parameters

    • event: "pause"
    • listener: (() => void)
        • (): void
        • Returns void

    Returns Socket

  • Parameters

    • event: "readable"
    • listener: (() => void)
        • (): void
        • Returns void

    Returns Socket

  • Parameters

    • event: "resume"
    • listener: (() => void)
        • (): void
        • Returns void

    Returns Socket

  • Parameters

    • event: string | symbol
    • listener: ((...args: any[]) => void)
        • (...args: any[]): void
        • Parameters

          • Rest ...args: any[]

          Returns void

    Returns Socket

  • Close the TCP connection by sending an RST packet and destroy the stream. If this TCP socket is in connecting status, it will send an RST packet and destroy this TCP socket once it is connected. Otherwise, it will call socket.destroy with an ERR_SOCKET_CLOSED Error. If this is not a TCP socket (for example, a pipe), calling this method will immediately throw an ERR_INVALID_HANDLE_TYPE Error.

    Since

    v18.3.0

    Returns

    The socket itself.

    Returns Socket

  • Resumes reading after a call to socket.pause().

    Returns

    The socket itself.

    Returns Socket

  • The writable.setDefaultEncoding() method sets the default encoding for a Writable stream.

    Since

    v0.11.15

    Parameters

    Returns Socket

  • Set the encoding for the socket as a Readable Stream. See readable.setEncoding() for more information.

    Since

    v0.1.90

    Returns

    The socket itself.

    Parameters

    Returns Socket

  • Enable/disable keep-alive functionality, and optionally set the initial delay before the first keepalive probe is sent on an idle socket.

    Set initialDelay (in milliseconds) to set the delay between the last data packet received and the first keepalive probe. Setting 0 forinitialDelay will leave the value unchanged from the default (or previous) setting.

    Enabling the keep-alive functionality will set the following socket options:

    • SO_KEEPALIVE=1
    • TCP_KEEPIDLE=initialDelay
    • TCP_KEEPCNT=10
    • TCP_KEEPINTVL=1

    Since

    v0.1.92

    Returns

    The socket itself.

    Parameters

    • Optional enable: boolean
    • Optional initialDelay: number

    Returns Socket

  • By default EventEmitters will print a warning if more than 10 listeners are added for a particular event. This is a useful default that helps finding memory leaks. The emitter.setMaxListeners() method allows the limit to be modified for this specific EventEmitter instance. The value can be set toInfinity (or 0) to indicate an unlimited number of listeners.

    Returns a reference to the EventEmitter, so that calls can be chained.

    Since

    v0.3.5

    Parameters

    • n: number

    Returns Socket

  • Enable/disable the use of Nagle's algorithm.

    When a TCP connection is created, it will have Nagle's algorithm enabled.

    Nagle's algorithm delays data before it is sent via the network. It attempts to optimize throughput at the expense of latency.

    Passing true for noDelay or not passing an argument will disable Nagle's algorithm for the socket. Passing false for noDelay will enable Nagle's algorithm.

    Since

    v0.1.90

    Returns

    The socket itself.

    Parameters

    • Optional noDelay: boolean

    Returns Socket

  • Sets the socket to timeout after timeout milliseconds of inactivity on the socket. By default net.Socket do not have a timeout.

    When an idle timeout is triggered the socket will receive a 'timeout' event but the connection will not be severed. The user must manually call socket.end() or socket.destroy() to end the connection.

    socket.setTimeout(3000);
    socket.on('timeout', () => {
    console.log('socket timeout');
    socket.end();
    });

    If timeout is 0, then the existing idle timeout is disabled.

    The optional callback parameter will be added as a one-time listener for the 'timeout' event.

    Since

    v0.1.90

    Returns

    The socket itself.

    Parameters

    • timeout: number
    • Optional callback: (() => void)
        • (): void
        • Returns void

    Returns Socket

  • The writable.uncork() method flushes all data buffered since cork was called.

    When using writable.cork() and writable.uncork() to manage the buffering of writes to a stream, defer calls to writable.uncork() usingprocess.nextTick(). Doing so allows batching of allwritable.write() calls that occur within a given Node.js event loop phase.

    stream.cork();
    stream.write('some ');
    stream.write('data ');
    process.nextTick(() => stream.uncork());

    If the writable.cork() method is called multiple times on a stream, the same number of calls to writable.uncork() must be called to flush the buffered data.

    stream.cork();
    stream.write('some ');
    stream.cork();
    stream.write('data ');
    process.nextTick(() => {
    stream.uncork();
    // The data will not be flushed until uncork() is called a second time.
    stream.uncork();
    });

    See also: writable.cork().

    Since

    v0.11.2

    Returns void

  • The readable.unpipe() method detaches a Writable stream previously attached using the pipe method.

    If the destination is not specified, then all pipes are detached.

    If the destination is specified, but no pipe is set up for it, then the method does nothing.

    const fs = require('fs');
    const readable = getReadableStreamSomehow();
    const writable = fs.createWriteStream('file.txt');
    // All the data from readable goes into 'file.txt',
    // but only for the first second.
    readable.pipe(writable);
    setTimeout(() => {
    console.log('Stop writing to file.txt.');
    readable.unpipe(writable);
    console.log('Manually close the file stream.');
    writable.end();
    }, 1000);

    Since

    v0.9.4

    Parameters

    • Optional destination: WritableStream

      Optional specific stream to unpipe

    Returns Socket

  • Calling unref() on a socket will allow the program to exit if this is the only active socket in the event system. If the socket is already unrefed callingunref() again will have no effect.

    Since

    v0.9.1

    Returns

    The socket itself.

    Returns Socket

  • Passing chunk as null signals the end of the stream (EOF) and behaves the same as readable.push(null), after which no more data can be written. The EOF signal is put at the end of the buffer and any buffered data will still be flushed.

    The readable.unshift() method pushes a chunk of data back into the internal buffer. This is useful in certain situations where a stream is being consumed by code that needs to "un-consume" some amount of data that it has optimistically pulled out of the source, so that the data can be passed on to some other party.

    The stream.unshift(chunk) method cannot be called after the 'end' event has been emitted or a runtime error will be thrown.

    Developers using stream.unshift() often should consider switching to use of a Transform stream instead. See the API for stream implementers section for more information.

    // Pull off a header delimited by \n\n.
    // Use unshift() if we get too much.
    // Call the callback with (error, header, stream).
    const { StringDecoder } = require('string_decoder');
    function parseHeader(stream, callback) {
    stream.on('error', callback);
    stream.on('readable', onReadable);
    const decoder = new StringDecoder('utf8');
    let header = '';
    function onReadable() {
    let chunk;
    while (null !== (chunk = stream.read())) {
    const str = decoder.write(chunk);
    if (str.includes('\n\n')) {
    // Found the header boundary.
    const split = str.split(/\n\n/);
    header += split.shift();
    const remaining = split.join('\n\n');
    const buf = Buffer.from(remaining, 'utf8');
    stream.removeListener('error', callback);
    // Remove the 'readable' listener before unshifting.
    stream.removeListener('readable', onReadable);
    if (buf.length)
    stream.unshift(buf);
    // Now the body of the message can be read from the stream.
    callback(null, header, stream);
    return;
    }
    // Still reading the header.
    header += str;
    }
    }
    }

    Unlike push, stream.unshift(chunk) will not end the reading process by resetting the internal reading state of the stream. This can cause unexpected results if readable.unshift() is called during a read (i.e. from within a _read implementation on a custom stream). Following the call to readable.unshift() with an immediate push will reset the reading state appropriately, however it is best to simply avoid calling readable.unshift() while in the process of performing a read.

    Since

    v0.9.11

    Parameters

    • chunk: any

      Chunk of data to unshift onto the read queue. For streams not operating in object mode, chunk must be a string, Buffer, Uint8Array or null. For object mode streams, chunk may be any JavaScript value.

    • Optional encoding: BufferEncoding

      Encoding of string chunks. Must be a valid Buffer encoding, such as 'utf8' or 'ascii'.

    Returns void

  • Prior to Node.js 0.10, streams did not implement the entire stream module API as it is currently defined. (See Compatibility for more information.)

    When using an older Node.js library that emits 'data' events and has a pause method that is advisory only, thereadable.wrap() method can be used to create a Readable stream that uses the old stream as its data source.

    It will rarely be necessary to use readable.wrap() but the method has been provided as a convenience for interacting with older Node.js applications and libraries.

    const { OldReader } = require('./old-api-module.js');
    const { Readable } = require('stream');
    const oreader = new OldReader();
    const myReader = new Readable().wrap(oreader);

    myReader.on('readable', () => {
    myReader.read(); // etc.
    });

    Since

    v0.9.4

    Parameters

    Returns Socket

  • Sends data on the socket. The second parameter specifies the encoding in the case of a string. It defaults to UTF8 encoding.

    Returns true if the entire data was flushed successfully to the kernel buffer. Returns false if all or part of the data was queued in user memory.'drain' will be emitted when the buffer is again free.

    The optional callback parameter will be executed when the data is finally written out, which may not be immediately.

    See Writable stream write() method for more information.

    Since

    v0.1.90

    Parameters

    • buffer: string | Uint8Array
    • Optional cb: ((err?: Error) => void)
        • (err?: Error): void
        • Parameters

          Returns void

    Returns boolean

  • Parameters

    • str: string | Uint8Array
    • Optional encoding: BufferEncoding
    • Optional cb: ((err?: Error) => void)
        • (err?: Error): void
        • Parameters

          Returns void

    Returns boolean

  • A utility method for creating duplex streams.

    • Stream converts writable stream into writable Duplex and readable stream to Duplex.
    • Blob converts into readable Duplex.
    • string converts into readable Duplex.
    • ArrayBuffer converts into readable Duplex.
    • AsyncIterable converts into a readable Duplex. Cannot yield null.
    • AsyncGeneratorFunction converts into a readable/writable transform Duplex. Must take a source AsyncIterable as first parameter. Cannot yield null.
    • AsyncFunction converts into a writable Duplex. Must return either null or undefined
    • Object ({ writable, readable }) converts readable and writable into Stream and then combines them into Duplex where the Duplex will write to the writable and read from the readable.
    • Promise converts into readable Duplex. Value null is ignored.

    Since

    v16.8.0

    Parameters

    Returns Duplex

  • Returns a copy of the array of listeners for the event named eventName.

    For EventEmitters this behaves exactly the same as calling .listeners on the emitter.

    For EventTargets this is the only way to get the event listeners for the event target. This is useful for debugging and diagnostic purposes.

    const { getEventListeners, EventEmitter } = require('events');

    {
    const ee = new EventEmitter();
    const listener = () => console.log('Events are fun');
    ee.on('foo', listener);
    getEventListeners(ee, 'foo'); // [listener]
    }
    {
    const et = new EventTarget();
    const listener = () => console.log('Events are fun');
    et.addEventListener('foo', listener);
    getEventListeners(et, 'foo'); // [listener]
    }

    Since

    v15.2.0, v14.17.0

    Parameters

    Returns Function[]

  • A class method that returns the number of listeners for the given eventNameregistered on the given emitter.

    const { EventEmitter, listenerCount } = require('events');
    const myEmitter = new EventEmitter();
    myEmitter.on('event', () => {});
    myEmitter.on('event', () => {});
    console.log(listenerCount(myEmitter, 'event'));
    // Prints: 2

    Since

    v0.9.12

    Deprecated

    Since v3.2.0 - Use listenerCount instead.

    Parameters

    • emitter: EventEmitter

      The emitter to query

    • eventName: string | symbol

      The event name

    Returns number

  • const { on, EventEmitter } = require('events');

    (async () => {
    const ee = new EventEmitter();

    // Emit later on
    process.nextTick(() => {
    ee.emit('foo', 'bar');
    ee.emit('foo', 42);
    });

    for await (const event of on(ee, 'foo')) {
    // The execution of this inner block is synchronous and it
    // processes one event at a time (even with await). Do not use
    // if concurrent execution is required.
    console.log(event); // prints ['bar'] [42]
    }
    // Unreachable here
    })();

    Returns an AsyncIterator that iterates eventName events. It will throw if the EventEmitter emits 'error'. It removes all listeners when exiting the loop. The value returned by each iteration is an array composed of the emitted event arguments.

    An AbortSignal can be used to cancel waiting on events:

    const { on, EventEmitter } = require('events');
    const ac = new AbortController();

    (async () => {
    const ee = new EventEmitter();

    // Emit later on
    process.nextTick(() => {
    ee.emit('foo', 'bar');
    ee.emit('foo', 42);
    });

    for await (const event of on(ee, 'foo', { signal: ac.signal })) {
    // The execution of this inner block is synchronous and it
    // processes one event at a time (even with await). Do not use
    // if concurrent execution is required.
    console.log(event); // prints ['bar'] [42]
    }
    // Unreachable here
    })();

    process.nextTick(() => ac.abort());

    Since

    v13.6.0, v12.16.0

    Returns

    that iterates eventName events emitted by the emitter

    Parameters

    Returns AsyncIterableIterator<any>

  • Creates a Promise that is fulfilled when the EventEmitter emits the given event or that is rejected if the EventEmitter emits 'error' while waiting. The Promise will resolve with an array of all the arguments emitted to the given event.

    This method is intentionally generic and works with the web platform EventTarget interface, which has no special'error' event semantics and does not listen to the 'error' event.

    const { once, EventEmitter } = require('events');

    async function run() {
    const ee = new EventEmitter();

    process.nextTick(() => {
    ee.emit('myevent', 42);
    });

    const [value] = await once(ee, 'myevent');
    console.log(value);

    const err = new Error('kaboom');
    process.nextTick(() => {
    ee.emit('error', err);
    });

    try {
    await once(ee, 'myevent');
    } catch (err) {
    console.log('error happened', err);
    }
    }

    run();

    The special handling of the 'error' event is only used when events.once()is used to wait for another event. If events.once() is used to wait for the 'error' event itself, then it is treated as any other kind of event without special handling:

    const { EventEmitter, once } = require('events');

    const ee = new EventEmitter();

    once(ee, 'error')
    .then(([err]) => console.log('ok', err.message))
    .catch((err) => console.log('error', err.message));

    ee.emit('error', new Error('boom'));

    // Prints: ok boom

    An AbortSignal can be used to cancel waiting for the event:

    const { EventEmitter, once } = require('events');

    const ee = new EventEmitter();
    const ac = new AbortController();

    async function foo(emitter, event, signal) {
    try {
    await once(emitter, event, { signal });
    console.log('event emitted!');
    } catch (error) {
    if (error.name === 'AbortError') {
    console.error('Waiting for the event was canceled!');
    } else {
    console.error('There was an error', error.message);
    }
    }
    }

    foo(ee, 'foo', ac.signal);
    ac.abort(); // Abort waiting for the event
    ee.emit('foo'); // Prints: Waiting for the event was canceled!

    Since

    v11.13.0, v10.16.0

    Parameters

    Returns Promise<any[]>

  • Parameters

    Returns Promise<any[]>

  • const {
    setMaxListeners,
    EventEmitter
    } = require('events');

    const target = new EventTarget();
    const emitter = new EventEmitter();

    setMaxListeners(5, target, emitter);

    Since

    v15.4.0

    Parameters

    • Optional n: number

      A non-negative number. The maximum number of listeners per EventTarget event.

    • Rest ...eventTargets: (EventEmitter | _DOMEventTarget)[]

    Returns void

  • Experimental

    A utility method for creating a web ReadableStream from a Readable.

    Since

    v17.0.0

    Parameters

    Returns ReadableStream<any>