Node.js Stream API Guide

Streams are Node.js's way of handling data piece by piece, enabling efficient processing of large files and real-time data. Here's how to use them.

Best Practices#

Performance:
✓ Use streams for large files
✓ Set appropriate highWaterMark
✓ Handle backpressure
✓ Use pipeline for error handling

Error Handling:
✓ Always handle 'error' events
✓ Use pipeline/promises
✓ Clean up resources
✓ Handle stream destruction

Patterns:
✓ Pipe for simple cases
✓ Pipeline for complex chains
✓ Object mode for structured data
✓ Async iteration for simplicity

Avoid:
✗ Loading large files into memory
✗ Ignoring backpressure
✗ Missing error handlers
✗ Not ending streams properly

Node.js streams enable efficient processing of large data sets by handling data in chunks. Use readable streams for data sources, writable streams for destinations, and transform streams for data manipulation. Always use pipeline for proper error handling and cleanup, and be mindful of backpressure when processing data faster than it can be written.

Node.js Stream API Guide

Stream Types#

Reading Files with Streams#

Writing Files with Streams#

Piping Streams#

Pipeline with Error Handling#

Custom Readable Stream#

Custom Writable Stream#

Transform Streams#

Object Mode Streams#

Duplex Streams#

HTTP Streaming#

Stream Composition#

Async Iteration#

Backpressure Handling#

Memory-Efficient Processing#

Best Practices#

Conclusion#

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