# get-stream > Get a stream as a string, buffer, or array ## Install ``` $ npm install get-stream ``` ## Usage ```js const fs = require('fs'); const getStream = require('get-stream'); (async () => { const stream = fs.createReadStream('unicorn.txt'); console.log(await getStream(stream)); /* ,,))))))));, __)))))))))))))), \|/ -\(((((''''((((((((. -*-==//////(('' . `)))))), /|\ ))| o ;-. '((((( ,(, ( `| / ) ;))))' ,_))^;(~ | | | ,))((((_ _____------~~~-. %,;(;(>';'~ o_); ; )))(((` ~---~ `:: \ %%~~)(v;(`('~ ; ''''```` `: `:::|\,__,%% );`'; ~ | _ ) / `:|`----' `-' ______/\/~ | / / /~;;.____/;;' / ___--,-( `;;;/ / // _;______;'------~~~~~ /;;/\ / // | | / ; \;;,\ (<_ | ; /',/-----' _> \_| ||_ //~;~~~~~~~~~ `\_| (,~~ \~\ ~~ */ })(); ``` ## API The methods returns a promise that resolves when the `end` event fires on the stream, indicating that there is no more data to be read. The stream is switched to flowing mode. ### getStream(stream, options?) Get the `stream` as a string. #### options Type: `object` ##### encoding Type: `string`\ Default: `'utf8'` [Encoding](https://nodejs.org/api/buffer.html#buffer_buffer) of the incoming stream. ##### maxBuffer Type: `number`\ Default: `Infinity` Maximum length of the returned string. If it exceeds this value before the stream ends, the promise will be rejected with a `getStream.MaxBufferError` error. ### getStream.buffer(stream, options?) Get the `stream` as a buffer. It honors the `maxBuffer` option as above, but it refers to byte length rather than string length. ### getStream.array(stream, options?) Get the `stream` as an array of values. It honors both the `maxBuffer` and `encoding` options. The behavior changes slightly based on the encoding chosen: - When `encoding` is unset, it assumes an [object mode stream](https://nodesource.com/blog/understanding-object-streams/) and collects values emitted from `stream` unmodified. In this case `maxBuffer` refers to the number of items in the array (not the sum of their sizes). - When `encoding` is set to `buffer`, it collects an array of buffers. `maxBuffer` refers to the summed byte lengths of every buffer in the array. - When `encoding` is set to anything else, it collects an array of strings. `maxBuffer` refers to the summed character lengths of every string in the array. ## Errors If the input stream emits an `error` event, the promise will be rejected with the error. The buffered data will be attached to the `bufferedData` property of the error. ```js (async () => { try { await getStream(streamThatErrorsAtTheEnd('unicorn')); } catch (error) { console.log(error.bufferedData); //=> 'unicorn' } })() ``` ## FAQ ### How is this different from [`concat-stream`](https://github.com/maxogden/concat-stream)? This module accepts a stream instead of being one and returns a promise instead of using a callback. The API is simpler and it only supports returning a string, buffer, or array. It doesn't have a fragile type inference. You explicitly choose what you want. And it doesn't depend on the huge `readable-stream` package. ## Related - [get-stdin](https://github.com/sindresorhus/get-stdin) - Get stdin as a string or buffer ---

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c	File Name	Size	T	Date
-	buffer-stream.js	894	js	2025-10-15 10:08:10
-	index.d.ts	3662	ts	2025-10-15 10:08:10
-	index.js	1489	js	2025-10-15 10:08:10
-	license	1117	%	2025-10-15 10:08:10
-	package.json	819	json	2025-10-15 10:08:10
-	readme.md	4195	md	2025-10-15 10:08:10

🌲 / linkwarden node_modules get-stream

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