FastestSmallestTextEncoderDecoder

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This Javascript library provides the most performant tiny polyfill for window.TextEncoder and window.TextDecoder for use in the browser, in NodeJS, in RequireJS, in web Workers, in SharedWorkers, and in ServiceWorkers.

Quick Start

Add the following HTML Code inside the <head>:

<script src="https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/r55397ld512etib/EncoderDecoderTogether.min.js?dl=0" nomodule="" type="text/javascript"></script>

If no script on the page requires this library until the DOMContentLoaded event, then use the the much less blocking version below:

<script defer="" src="https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/r55397ld512etib/EncoderDecoderTogether.min.js?dl=0" nomodule="" type="text/javascript"></script>

Alternatively, either use https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/47481btie8pb95h/FastestTextEncoderPolyfill.min.js?dl=0 to polyfill window.TextEncoder for converting a String into a Uint8Array or use https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/qmoknmp86sytc74/FastestTextDecoderPolyfill.min.js?dl=0 to only polyfill window.TextDecoder for converting a Uint8Array/ArrayBuffer/[typedarray]/global.Buffer into a String.

The nomodule attribute prevents the script from being needlessly downloaded and executed on browsers which already support TextEncoder and TextDecoder. nomodule does not test for the presence of TextEncoder or TextDecoder, but it is very safe to assume that browsers advanced enough to support modules also support TextEncoder and TextDecoder.

RequireJS and NodeJS

For dropping into either RequireJS or NodeJS, please use the fastestsmallesttextencoderdecoder npm repository, this minified file, or the corresponding source code file. To install via npm, use the following code,

npm install fastestsmallesttextencoderdecoder

After installing via npm, one can use require("fastestsmallesttextencoderdecoder"). Alternatively, one can drop the EncoderAndDecoderNodeJS.min.js file into the same directory as their NodeJS script and do require("./EncoderAndDecoderNodeJS.min.js"). Both methods are functionally equivalent.

AngularJS

Open a terminal in the project’s directory, and install fastestsmallesttextencoderdecoder via npm.

npm install fastestsmallesttextencoderdecoder

Then, add import 'fastestsmallesttextencoderdecoder'; to the polyfills.ts file.

Browser Support

This polyfill will bring support for TextEncoder/TextDecoder to the following browsers.

Feature Chrome Firefox Opera Edge Internet Explorer Safari Android Samsung Internet Node.js
Full Polyfill 7.0 4.0 11.6 12.0** 10 5.1 (Desktop) / 4.2 (iOS) 4.0 1.0 3.0
Partial Polyfill* 1.0** 0.6 7.0 (Desktop) / 9.5** (Mobile) 12.0** 4.0 2.0 1.0** 1.0** 0.10

Also note that while this polyfill may work in these old browsers, it is very likely that the rest of one’s website will not unless if one make a concious effort to have their code work in these old browsers.

* Partial polyfill means that Array (or Buffer in NodeJS) will be used instead of Uint8Array/[typedarray].

** This is the first public release of the browser

API Documentation

Please review the MDN at window.TextEncoder and window.TextDecoder for information on how to use TextEncoder and TextDecoder.

As for NodeJS, calling require("EncoderAndDecoderNodeJS.min.js") yields the following object. Note that this polyfill checks for global.TextEncoder and global.TextDecoder and returns the native implementation if available.

module.exports = {
	TextEncoder: function TextEncoder(){/*...*/},
	TextDecoder: function TextDecoder(){/*...*/},
	encode: TextEncoder.prototype.encode,
	decode: TextDecoder.prototype.decode
}

In NodeJS, one does not ever have to use new just to get the encoder/decoder (although one still can do so if they want to). All of the code snippets below function identically (aside from unused local variables introduced into the scope).

    // Variation 1
    const {TextEncoder, TextDecoder} = require("fastestsmallesttextencoderdecoder");
    const encode = (new TextEncoder).encode;
    const decode = (new TextDecoder).decode;

    // Variation 2
    const {encode, decode} = require("fastestsmallesttextencoderdecoder");

    // Variation 3 (a rewording of Variation 2)
    const encodeAndDecodeModule = require("fastestsmallesttextencoderdecoder");
    const encode = encodeAndDecodeModule.encode;
    const decode = encodeAndDecodeModule.decode;

Or, one can use the new and shiny ES6 module importation statements.

    // Variation 1
    import {TextEncoder, TextDecoder} from "fastestsmallesttextencoderdecoder";
    const encode = (new TextEncoder).encode;
    const decode = (new TextDecoder).decode;

    // Variation 2
    import {encode, decode} from "fastestsmallesttextencoderdecoder";

    // Variation 3 (a rewording of Variation 2)
    import * as encodeAndDecodeModule from "fastestsmallesttextencoderdecoder";
    const encode = encodeAndDecodeModule.encode;
    const decode = encodeAndDecodeModule.decode;

Note that fastestsmallesttextencoderdecoder must be installed via the following snippet in the terminal in order for the require("fastestsmallesttextencoderdecoder") to work.

npm install fastestsmallesttextencoderdecoder

Demonstration

Visit the GithubPage to see a demonstation. As seen in the Web Worker hexWorker.js, the Github Pages demonstration uses a special encoderAndDecoderForced.src.js version of this library to forcefully install the TextEncoder and TextDecoder even when there is native support. That way, this demonstraton should serve to truthfully demonstrate this polyfill.

npm Project

This project can be found on npm here at this link.

Development

On linux, the project can be developed by cloning it with the following command line.

git clone https://github.com/anonyco/FastestSmallestTextEncoderDecoder.git; cd FastestSmallestTextEncoderDecoder; npm run install-dev

Emphasize the npm run install-dev which downloads closure-compiler.jar into the repository for minifying the files.

Now that the repository is cloned, edit the files as one see fit. Now that the files have been edited, run the following in the terminal in the root folder of the repository in order to minify the NodeJS JavaScript files.

npm run build

Continuity

I try my best to be a realist, and what’s more realistic than death? I am going to die someday and it may be tomorrow in a car crash. You never know. As I have no coder freinds to look out for my projects, I’m looking for anyone who wants to be a collaborator on this project in the event of the unforseen. Reach out to me at wowzeryest@gmail.com. If issues/pulls start piling up over the course of months, assume the worst. As I am trying my best to do my part to help the community, I encourage every developer to share their projects with other people to ensure continuity.

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