Web/API/ReadableStreamDefaultController

The ReadableStreamDefaultController interface of the Streams API represents a controller allowing control of a ReadableStream's state and internal queue. Default controllers are for streams that are not byte streams.

Constructor

None. ReadableStreamDefaultController instances are created automatically during ReadableStream construction.

Properties

ReadableStreamDefaultController.desiredSize Read only: Returns the desired size required to fill the stream's internal queue.

Methods

ReadableStreamDefaultController.close(): Closes the associated stream.
ReadableStreamDefaultController.enqueue(): Enqueues a given chunk in the associated stream.
ReadableStreamDefaultController.error(): Causes any future interactions with the associated stream to error.

Examples

In the following simple example, a custom ReadableStream is created using a constructor (see our [[../../../../../../mdn.github.io/dom-examples/streams/simple-random-stream/index|Simple random stream example]] for the full code). The start() function generates a random string of text every second and enqueues it into the stream. A cancel() function is also provided to stop the generation if ReadableStream.cancel() is called for any reason.

Note that a ReadableStreamDefaultController object is provided as the parameter of the start() and pull() functions.

When a button is pressed, the generation is stopped, the stream is closed using ReadableStreamDefaultController.close(), and another function is run, which reads the data back out of the stream.

const stream = new ReadableStream({
  start(controller) {
    interval = setInterval(() => {
      let string = randomChars();

      // Add the string to the stream
      controller.enqueue(string);

      // show it on the screen
      let listItem = document.createElement('li');
      listItem.textContent = string;
      list1.appendChild(listItem);
    }, 1000);

    button.addEventListener('click', function() {
      clearInterval(interval);
      fetchStream();
      controller.close();
    })
  },
  pull(controller) {
    // We don't really need a pull in this example
  },
  cancel() {
    // This is called if the reader cancels,
    // so we should stop generating strings
    clearInterval(interval);
  }
});

Specifications

Specification	Status	Comment
StreamsThe definition of 'ReadableStreamDefaultController' in that specification.	Living Standard	Initial definition

Browser compatibility

Update compatibility data on GitHub

	Desktop						Mobile
	Chrome	Edge	Firefox	Internet Explorer	Opera	Safari	Android webview	Chrome for Android	Firefox for Android	Opera for Android	Safari on iOS	Samsung Internet
`ReadableStreamDefaultController` Experimental'	Chrome Full support 52	Edge Full support ≤79	Firefox Full support 65 Full support 65 Full support 57 Disabled' Disabled' From version 57: this feature is behind the `dom.streams.enabled` preference (needs to be set to `true`) and the `javascript.options.streams` preference (needs to be set to `true`). To change preferences in Firefox, visit about:config.	IE No support No	Opera Full support 39	Safari ?	WebView Android Full support 52	Chrome Android Full support 52	Firefox Android Full support 65 Full support 65 Full support 57 Disabled' Disabled' From version 57: this feature is behind the `dom.streams.enabled` preference (needs to be set to `true`) and the `javascript.options.streams` preference (needs to be set to `true`). To change preferences in Firefox, visit about:config.	Opera Android Full support 41	Safari iOS ?	Samsung Internet Android Full support 6.0
`close` Experimental'	Chrome ?	Edge ?	Firefox Full support 65 Full support 65 Full support 57 Disabled' Disabled' From version 57: this feature is behind the `dom.streams.enabled` preference (needs to be set to `true`) and the `javascript.options.streams` preference (needs to be set to `true`). To change preferences in Firefox, visit about:config.	IE No support No	Opera ?	Safari ?	WebView Android ?	Chrome Android ?	Firefox Android Full support 65 Full support 65 Full support 57 Disabled' Disabled' From version 57: this feature is behind the `dom.streams.enabled` preference (needs to be set to `true`) and the `javascript.options.streams` preference (needs to be set to `true`). To change preferences in Firefox, visit about:config.	Opera Android ?	Safari iOS ?	Samsung Internet Android ?
`desiredSize` Experimental'	Chrome ?	Edge ?	Firefox Full support 65 Full support 65 Full support 57 Disabled' Disabled' From version 57: this feature is behind the `dom.streams.enabled` preference (needs to be set to `true`) and the `javascript.options.streams` preference (needs to be set to `true`). To change preferences in Firefox, visit about:config.	IE No support No	Opera ?	Safari ?	WebView Android ?	Chrome Android ?	Firefox Android Full support 65 Full support 65 Full support 57 Disabled' Disabled' From version 57: this feature is behind the `dom.streams.enabled` preference (needs to be set to `true`) and the `javascript.options.streams` preference (needs to be set to `true`). To change preferences in Firefox, visit about:config.	Opera Android ?	Safari iOS ?	Samsung Internet Android ?
`enqueue` Experimental'	Chrome ?	Edge ?	Firefox Full support 65 Full support 65 Full support 57 Disabled' Disabled' From version 57: this feature is behind the `dom.streams.enabled` preference (needs to be set to `true`) and the `javascript.options.streams` preference (needs to be set to `true`). To change preferences in Firefox, visit about:config.	IE No support No	Opera ?	Safari ?	WebView Android ?	Chrome Android ?	Firefox Android Full support 65 Full support 65 Full support 57 Disabled' Disabled' From version 57: this feature is behind the `dom.streams.enabled` preference (needs to be set to `true`) and the `javascript.options.streams` preference (needs to be set to `true`). To change preferences in Firefox, visit about:config.	Opera Android ?	Safari iOS ?	Samsung Internet Android ?
`error` Experimental'	Chrome ?	Edge ?	Firefox Full support 65 Full support 65 Full support 57 Disabled' Disabled' From version 57: this feature is behind the `dom.streams.enabled` preference (needs to be set to `true`) and the `javascript.options.streams` preference (needs to be set to `true`). To change preferences in Firefox, visit about:config.	IE No support No	Opera ?	Safari ?	WebView Android ?	Chrome Android ?	Firefox Android Full support 65 Full support 65 Full support 57 Disabled' Disabled' From version 57: this feature is behind the `dom.streams.enabled` preference (needs to be set to `true`) and the `javascript.options.streams` preference (needs to be set to `true`). To change preferences in Firefox, visit about:config.	Opera Android ?	Safari iOS ?	Samsung Internet Android ?

Legend

Full support: Full support
No support: No support
Compatibility unknown: Compatibility unknown
Experimental. Expect behavior to change in the future.': Experimental. Expect behavior to change in the future.
User must explicitly enable this feature.': User must explicitly enable this feature.

ReadableStreamDefaultController by Mozilla Contributors is licensed under CC-BY-SA 2.5.