Node js continues to gain popularity among developers and business owners for its excellent functionality. One of the Node js features that earn applause is streams. It gets implemented in several ways, but only some are aware.
Streams in NodeJs are a way to read or write data in small chunks or pieces rather than loading everything into memory at once. What makes it powerful is that you can process data in real-time. Hence, you can avoid memory constraints, which slow down or crash applications.
This blog will discuss different types of Node streams and how each Node js stream operates with use cases.
4 Types of Node.Js Streams
Here are the four different types of streams in Node js designed to perform various data operations.
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Readable
Node js readable stream allows you to read from sources, such as files or network connections, in small pieces or chunks. When you create streams, it emits a ‘data’ event every time new data is available to read. Likewise, no data is available to read if it emits an ‘end’ event.
You can apply the fs.createReadStream() method to generate a readable stream for a file or the HTTP.get() method if you create a readable stream for an HTTP response.
Also, you can use the process. Stdin to read user input using a terminal application.
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Writable
Writable streams enable you to write from sources, such as updating or writing data to a file. When you create a writable stream, it is in a written state. Also, you can use fs.createWriteStream() to write data abstract from file data.
The events in writable steam mode Node js uses to track the status of the stream and how it has responded to different situations. For instance, when there is no need to continue, and all data is written, you emit a ‘finish’ event.
If the application crashes often, you can emit an ‘error’ event. It ensures that development functions properly and handles the event when errors occur. Moreover, the ‘drain’ event is used to resume writing data to the stream.
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Duplex
A duplex stream node js allow you to read and write data. It is a combination of both readable and writable streams. With duplex streams, you can create and implement _read() and _write() methods.
As the readable and writable method operate, it emits when new data is available to read and new data is available to write to the stream; you can use both in duplex streams.
The duplex streams are often used for network communications, requiring reading and writing data. Additionally, they can pipe to other streams. You must ensure you interact with accurate methods when working for duplex streams.
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Transform
The transform stream node Js allows you to modify or transform the data as it was written or read from the sources. It is like a duplex system used for processing data, such as encrypting or compressing data.
A nodejs transform stream example is a real-time chat app. It emits all of the events of readable and writable streams. For the transform stream, create _transform() method, and extend the stream. Transform class.
When working on transforming streams, you are implementing methods to perform the actual data transformation or whenever new data is available to transform. In addition, you can implement the _flush method to perform any final processing. It can also use for cleaning all the data that is changed.
Use Cases of Node.Js Streams
Here are some common use cases of node.js streams:
- Node js file streams are used for processing extensive real-time data, such as a filter or transforming data.
- Encryption streams are used to encrypt and decrypt sensitive data before writing it to the disk or file.
- Streams are used to develop real-time applications or implement real-time data visualizations.
- It streams audio or video data and allows streaming media without buffering. You can also use a buffer to stream Node js to represent binary data and provide them in the memory.
Conclusion
Understanding different types of NodeJs streams is crucial to develop scalable and reliable applications. Also, every stream offers various features and advantages leveraged in other use cases. Whether for small web applications or the transformation of extensive file data, types of streams make it more responsive, fast, and efficient. If you still have any confusion, you can hire Node js developer to implement types of streams for developing applications.
Author Bio:-
Chandresh Patel is a CEO, Agile coach and founder of Bacancy Technology. His truly entrepreneurial spirit, skillful expertise and extensive knowledge in the Agile software development services has helped the organization to achieve new heights of success. Chandresh is fronting the organization into global markets in a systematic, innovative and collaborative way to fulfill custom software development.
