rss-parser vs feedparser | RSS and Atom Feed Parsing Comparison

Package	Downloads	Stars	Size	Issues	Publish	License

rss-parser	404,521	1,453	1.87 MB	67	2 years ago	MIT
feedparser	18,030	1,973	-	20	5 years ago	MIT

Parsing Methodology

rss-parser:
rss-parser parses feeds by fetching the entire XML document and then converting it into a JavaScript object. While this method is simple and effective for most feeds, it may not be as memory-efficient as streaming parsers for very large feeds.
feedparser:
feedparser uses a streaming approach to parse feeds, which means it processes the XML data as it is received, rather than loading the entire feed into memory. This makes it highly efficient for parsing large feeds without consuming excessive memory.

Event-Driven vs. Promise-Based

rss-parser:
rss-parser provides a promise-based API for parsing feeds, which allows for easy integration with asynchronous code. This makes it simple to use in modern JavaScript applications, especially those that leverage async/await syntax.
feedparser:
feedparser follows an event-driven architecture, emitting events as different parts of the feed are parsed (e.g., meta, readable, end). This allows for real-time processing of feed data, making it suitable for applications that need to handle data as it arrives.

Memory Usage

rss-parser:
rss-parser may consume more memory when parsing large feeds, as it loads the entire XML document into memory before processing it. This can be a limitation for applications that need to handle very large feeds or operate in memory-constrained environments.
feedparser:
feedparser is designed to be memory-efficient, as it processes data in chunks and does not require the entire feed to be loaded into memory. This makes it a good choice for parsing large feeds or handling multiple feeds simultaneously without risking memory overflow.

Customization and Extensibility

rss-parser:
rss-parser provides basic customization options, such as the ability to modify the feed parsing process and handle specific elements. However, it may not be as extensible as feedparser for more complex or specialized parsing requirements.
feedparser:
feedparser offers a high degree of customization, allowing developers to implement their own logic for handling different feed elements. Its event-driven nature makes it easy to extend and adapt for specialized parsing needs.

Example Code

rss-parser:

Example of using rss-parser to parse a feed:

const Parser = require('rss-parser');
const parser = new Parser();

(async () => {
  const feed = await parser.parseURL('https://example.com/feed');
  console.log(feed.title);
  feed.items.forEach(item => {
    console.log(`${item.title} - ${item.link}`);
  });
})();

feedparser:

Example of using feedparser to parse a feed:

const FeedParser = require('feedparser');
const request = require('request');

const req = request('https://example.com/feed');
const feedparser = new FeedParser();

req.on('error', (error) => console.error(error));
req.pipe(feedparser);

feedparser.on('error', (error) => console.error(error));
feedparser.on('readable', () => {
  let item;
  while ((item = this.read())) {
    console.log(item);
  }
});

feedparser.on('end', () => console.log('Feed parsing completed.'));

Parsing Methodology

Event-Driven vs. Promise-Based

Memory Usage

Customization and Extensibility

Example Code

rss-parser

Installation

Usage

NodeJS

TypeScript

Web

Upgrading from v2 to v3

Output

Notes:

XML Options

Custom Fields

Default RSS version

xml2js passthrough

HTTP Options

Timeout

Headers

Redirects

Request passthrough

Contributing

Running Tests

Publishing Releases