File Creation Method
- file-saver:
file-saverhandles file creation by accepting Blob, File, or URL objects and triggering a download. It provides a consistent API for saving files, regardless of the data type, and handles cross-browser quirks automatically. - downloadjs:
downloadjsdoes not create files per se; it triggers downloads directly from data URLs, Blob objects, or File objects. It relies on the browser's download capabilities to handle the data provided, making it simple and efficient for small to medium-sized files. - blob-stream:
blob-streamcreates a Blob by writing data to a writable stream, which is especially efficient for large or streaming data. This method allows for incremental data writing, reducing memory usage since the entire file does not need to be loaded at once. - streamsaver:
streamsaverallows for streaming data to a file as it is being generated, using the Streams API. This method is particularly useful for large files, as it writes data in chunks, reducing memory consumption and allowing for progressive downloads.
Browser Compatibility
- file-saver:
file-saveroffers good cross-browser compatibility, including support for Internet Explorer 10 and above. It handles various browser quirks related to file downloading, making it reliable for applications that need to support a range of environments. - downloadjs:
downloadjsis designed to work across all modern browsers, including those that support the HTML5 download attribute. It also provides fallbacks for older browsers, making it a versatile choice for wide compatibility. - blob-stream:
blob-streamis compatible with modern browsers that support the Blob and Stream APIs. However, it may not work in older browsers that lack support for these features. - streamsaver:
streamsaveris compatible with modern browsers that support the Streams API. Its functionality may be limited in older browsers, but it is designed to work with the latest web standards for efficient data streaming.
Memory Usage
- file-saver:
file-saveris efficient in handling memory, especially when working with Blob and File objects. It does not load the entire file into memory before downloading, which helps reduce memory consumption during the file-saving process. - downloadjs:
downloadjshas minimal memory usage since it triggers downloads directly from data URLs or Blob objects without storing the entire file in memory. However, the memory usage depends on the size of the data being downloaded. - blob-stream:
blob-streamis memory-efficient as it writes data to a Blob incrementally, which is ideal for handling large files or streaming data without consuming excessive memory. - streamsaver:
streamsaveris designed for low memory usage when dealing with large data sets, as it streams data in chunks rather than loading the entire file at once. This makes it suitable for applications that need to handle large files without overwhelming the browser's memory.
Ease of Use: Code Examples
- file-saver:
Saving a File with
file-saverimport { saveAs } from 'file-saver'; // Create a Blob const blob = new Blob(['Hello, world!'], { type: 'text/plain' }); const filename = 'example.txt'; // Save the file saveAs(blob, filename); - downloadjs:
Triggering a File Download with
downloadjsimport download from 'downloadjs'; // Data to be downloaded const data = 'Hello, world!'; const filename = 'hello.txt'; // Trigger the download download(data, filename); - blob-stream:
Creating a Blob from a Stream with
blob-streamconst blobStream = require('blob-stream'); const stream = blobStream(); // Write data to the stream stream.write('Hello, '); stream.write('world!'); stream.end(); // Create a Blob from the stream const blob = stream.toBlob(); // Create a download link const url = URL.createObjectURL(blob); const a = document.createElement('a'); a.href = url; a.download = 'example.txt'; document.body.appendChild(a); a.click(); // Clean up URL.revokeObjectURL(url); document.body.removeChild(a); - streamsaver:
Streaming Data to a File with
streamsaverimport { WritableStream } from 'streams'; import { streamSaver } from 'streamsaver'; // Create a writable stream const stream = streamSaver.createWriteStream('large-file.txt'); const writer = stream.getWriter(); // Write data to the stream for (let i = 0; i < 100; i++) { writer.write(`Chunk ${i}\n`); } writer.close();
