bytes vs pretty-bytes vs filesize vs humanize-bytes
Node.js Byte Formatting Libraries Comparison
1 Year
bytespretty-bytesfilesizehumanize-bytes
What's Node.js Byte Formatting Libraries?

Byte formatting libraries are essential tools in web development that help developers convert byte values into human-readable formats. These libraries simplify the representation of file sizes, data transfer rates, and memory usage, making it easier for users to understand the information presented. Each library offers unique features and formatting styles, catering to different preferences and use cases. By utilizing these libraries, developers can enhance the user experience by providing clear and concise information about byte sizes, which is crucial in applications dealing with file uploads, downloads, or data storage.

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bytes53,054,66346812.3 kB6-MIT
pretty-bytes15,058,0211,14011.3 kB52 years agoMIT
filesize11,585,0501,65520.2 kB07 months agoBSD-3-Clause
humanize-bytes24,4583-09 years agoMIT
Feature Comparison: bytes vs pretty-bytes vs filesize vs humanize-bytes

Formatting Options

  • bytes:

    The 'bytes' library provides basic formatting options, converting bytes to human-readable strings using standard SI prefixes. It is straightforward and efficient for most use cases.

  • pretty-bytes:

    The 'pretty-bytes' library provides visually appealing formatting with optional color coding, enhancing the presentation of byte sizes in command-line interfaces.

  • filesize:

    The 'filesize' library offers extensive formatting options, including support for binary and decimal formats, as well as customizable suffixes and precision settings, making it highly versatile.

  • humanize-bytes:

    The 'humanize-bytes' library focuses on producing human-friendly output, emphasizing readability and natural language, which can be particularly useful for end-user interfaces.

Performance

  • bytes:

    The 'bytes' library is lightweight and optimized for performance, making it suitable for applications that require quick conversions without significant overhead.

  • pretty-bytes:

    The 'pretty-bytes' library is optimized for performance while providing visually appealing output, making it a good choice for applications that need both speed and aesthetics.

  • filesize:

    The 'filesize' library is also efficient but may introduce slight overhead due to its extensive formatting capabilities, which can be negligible in most scenarios.

  • humanize-bytes:

    The 'humanize-bytes' library is designed for readability rather than performance, but it still maintains reasonable efficiency for typical use cases.

Customization

  • bytes:

    The 'bytes' library offers limited customization options, focusing on simplicity and ease of use, which may be sufficient for straightforward applications.

  • pretty-bytes:

    The 'pretty-bytes' library allows for some customization in terms of color coding and formatting style, making it suitable for applications that prioritize visual appeal.

  • filesize:

    The 'filesize' library excels in customization, allowing developers to specify formatting styles, precision, and suffixes, making it ideal for applications requiring detailed control.

  • humanize-bytes:

    The 'humanize-bytes' library provides minimal customization options, focusing on producing natural language output rather than extensive formatting capabilities.

Ease of Use

  • bytes:

    The 'bytes' library is very easy to use, with a straightforward API that allows developers to quickly convert byte sizes with minimal setup.

  • pretty-bytes:

    The 'pretty-bytes' library is also user-friendly, with a simple API that allows developers to generate visually appealing byte representations quickly.

  • filesize:

    The 'filesize' library, while slightly more complex due to its extensive options, remains user-friendly and well-documented, making it accessible for developers.

  • humanize-bytes:

    The 'humanize-bytes' library is designed for ease of use, providing a simple interface that produces readable output without requiring extensive configuration.

Community and Maintenance

  • bytes:

    The 'bytes' library is widely used and well-maintained, ensuring compatibility with the latest Node.js versions and community support.

  • pretty-bytes:

    The 'pretty-bytes' library is actively maintained and has a growing community, ensuring ongoing support and updates for users.

  • filesize:

    The 'filesize' library has a strong community and is actively maintained, providing regular updates and improvements based on user feedback.

  • humanize-bytes:

    The 'humanize-bytes' library has a smaller community but is still maintained, offering reasonable support for developers looking for human-friendly formatting.

How to Choose: bytes vs pretty-bytes vs filesize vs humanize-bytes
  • bytes:

    Choose 'bytes' if you need a simple and efficient library for converting between byte sizes and human-readable formats. It is lightweight and offers basic functionality without additional overhead.

  • pretty-bytes:

    Use 'pretty-bytes' if you want a library that provides a visually appealing output with optional color coding. It is particularly useful in command-line applications where visual distinction can enhance readability.

  • filesize:

    Opt for 'filesize' if you require extensive formatting options and customization capabilities. It allows for detailed control over formatting styles, including decimal and binary options, making it suitable for applications that need precise representations.

  • humanize-bytes:

    Select 'humanize-bytes' if you prefer a library that focuses on converting byte sizes into human-friendly formats with a more natural language approach. It is ideal for applications that prioritize user-friendliness and readability.

README for bytes

Bytes utility

NPM Version NPM Downloads Build Status Test Coverage

Utility to parse a string bytes (ex: 1TB) to bytes (1099511627776) and vice-versa.

Installation

This is a Node.js module available through the npm registry. Installation is done using the npm install command:

$ npm install bytes

Usage

var bytes = require('bytes');

bytes(number|string value, [options]): number|string|null

Default export function. Delegates to either bytes.format or bytes.parse based on the type of value.

Arguments

| Name | Type | Description | |---------|----------|--------------------| | value | numberstring | Number value to format or string value to parse | | options | Object | Conversion options for format |

Returns

| Name | Type | Description | |---------|------------------|-------------------------------------------------| | results | stringnumbernull | Return null upon error. Numeric value in bytes, or string value otherwise. |

Example

bytes(1024);
// output: '1KB'

bytes('1KB');
// output: 1024

bytes.format(number value, [options]): string|null

Format the given value in bytes into a string. If the value is negative, it is kept as such. If it is a float, it is rounded.

Arguments

| Name | Type | Description | |---------|----------|--------------------| | value | number | Value in bytes | | options | Object | Conversion options |

Options

| Property | Type | Description | |-------------------|--------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | decimalPlaces | numbernull | Maximum number of decimal places to include in output. Default value to 2. | | fixedDecimals | booleannull | Whether to always display the maximum number of decimal places. Default value to false | | thousandsSeparator | stringnull | Example of values: ' ', ',' and '.'... Default value to ''. | | unit | stringnull | The unit in which the result will be returned (B/KB/MB/GB/TB). Default value to '' (which means auto detect). | | unitSeparator | stringnull | Separator to use between number and unit. Default value to ''. |

Returns

| Name | Type | Description | |---------|------------------|-------------------------------------------------| | results | stringnull | Return null upon error. String value otherwise. |

Example

bytes.format(1024);
// output: '1KB'

bytes.format(1000);
// output: '1000B'

bytes.format(1000, {thousandsSeparator: ' '});
// output: '1 000B'

bytes.format(1024 * 1.7, {decimalPlaces: 0});
// output: '2KB'

bytes.format(1024, {unitSeparator: ' '});
// output: '1 KB'

bytes.parse(string|number value): number|null

Parse the string value into an integer in bytes. If no unit is given, or value is a number, it is assumed the value is in bytes.

Supported units and abbreviations are as follows and are case-insensitive:

  • b for bytes
  • kb for kilobytes
  • mb for megabytes
  • gb for gigabytes
  • tb for terabytes
  • pb for petabytes

The units are in powers of two, not ten. This means 1kb = 1024b according to this parser.

Arguments

| Name | Type | Description | |---------------|--------|--------------------| | value | stringnumber | String to parse, or number in bytes. |

Returns

| Name | Type | Description | |---------|-------------|-------------------------| | results | numbernull | Return null upon error. Value in bytes otherwise. |

Example

bytes.parse('1KB');
// output: 1024

bytes.parse('1024');
// output: 1024

bytes.parse(1024);
// output: 1024

License

MIT