Web/API/ReadableStreamDefaultReader

The ReadableStreamDefaultReader interface of the Streams API represents a default reader that can be used to read stream data supplied from a network (e.g. a fetch request).

Constructor

ReadableStreamDefaultReader(): Creates and returns a ReadableStreamDefaultReader object instance.

Properties

ReadableStreamDefaultReader.closed Read only: Allows you to write code that responds to an end to the streaming process. Returns a promise that fulfills if the stream becomes closed or the reader's lock is released, or rejects if the stream errors.

Methods

ReadableStreamDefaultReader.cancel(): Cancels the stream, signaling a loss of interest in the stream by a consumer. The supplied reason argument will be given to the underlying source, which may or may not use it.
ReadableStreamDefaultReader.read(): Returns a promise providing access to the next chunk in the stream's internal queue.
ReadableStreamDefaultReader.releaseLock(): Releases the reader's lock on the stream.

Examples

In the following example, an artifical Response is created to stream HTML fragments fetched from another resource to the browser.

It demonstrates the usage of a ReadableStream in combination with a Uint8Array.

fetch("https://www.example.org/").then((response) => {
  const reader = response.body.getReader();
  const stream = new ReadableStream({
    start(controller) {
      // The following function handles each data chunk
      function push() {
        // "done" is a Boolean and value a "Uint8Array"
        return reader.read().then(({ done, value }) => {
          // Is there no more data to read?
          if (done) {
            // Tell the browser that we have finished sending data
            controller.close();
            return;
          }

          // Get the data and send it to the browser via the controller
          controller.enqueue(value);
          push();
        });
      };
      
      push();
    }
  });

  return new Response(stream, { headers: { "Content-Type": "text/html" } });
});

Specifications

Specification	Status	Comment
StreamsThe definition of 'ReadableStreamDefaultReader' 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
`ReadableStreamDefaultReader` 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
`ReadableStreamDefaultReader()` constructor 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 ?
`cancel` 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 ?
`closed` 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 ?
`read` 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 ?
`releaseLock` 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.

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