pako vs zlib vs node-gzip
Compression Libraries for Node.js Comparison
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What's Compression Libraries for Node.js?

Compression libraries are essential tools in web development for reducing the size of data transmitted over the network, improving load times and overall performance. These libraries provide various algorithms and methods for compressing and decompressing data, which is crucial for optimizing bandwidth usage and enhancing user experience. Each library offers unique features and capabilities, making them suitable for different use cases in Node.js applications.

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pako29,113,0055,7231.64 MB262 years ago(MIT AND Zlib)
zlib352,10262-1114 years ago-
node-gzip141,83855-17 years agoMIT
Feature Comparison: pako vs zlib vs node-gzip

Compression Formats

  • pako:

    pako supports both Gzip and Zlib formats, providing flexibility for developers who need to work with different compression standards. Its ability to handle both formats makes it suitable for a variety of use cases, including browser-based applications.

  • zlib:

    zlib is a core Node.js module that supports multiple compression formats, including Gzip and Deflate. It is a powerful library that offers extensive options for compression, making it suitable for complex server-side applications.

  • node-gzip:

    node-gzip specifically implements Gzip compression, which is widely used for web content. It is optimized for Node.js and is straightforward to integrate into existing applications, making it a great choice for server-side compression tasks.

Performance

  • pako:

    pako is known for its high performance, especially in browser environments. It is optimized for speed and efficiency, making it an excellent choice for applications that require quick data processing and transmission.

  • zlib:

    zlib offers robust performance but may require more configuration compared to node-gzip and pako. It is highly efficient for server-side applications, particularly when dealing with large volumes of data.

  • node-gzip:

    node-gzip is designed for performance with a focus on Gzip compression. It provides fast compression and decompression speeds, making it suitable for real-time applications where speed is critical.

Ease of Use

  • pako:

    pako provides a straightforward API that is easy to integrate into both Node.js and browser environments. Its simplicity and flexibility make it a popular choice among developers.

  • zlib:

    zlib, being a core Node.js module, is well-documented and widely used. However, its API may be more complex than node-gzip and pako, which could pose a slight learning curve for new developers.

  • node-gzip:

    node-gzip is easy to use with a simple API that allows developers to quickly implement compression in their applications. It requires minimal setup, making it accessible for developers of all skill levels.

Compatibility

  • pako:

    pako is designed to work in both Node.js and browser environments, making it a versatile choice for developers who need a compression library that can operate across different platforms.

  • zlib:

    zlib is a built-in module in Node.js, ensuring full compatibility with all Node.js applications. It is a reliable choice for server-side compression tasks.

  • node-gzip:

    node-gzip is specifically designed for Node.js, ensuring seamless compatibility with Node.js applications and environments. It leverages Node.js features for optimal performance.

Community and Support

  • pako:

    pako has a growing community and is widely used in various projects, providing ample resources and support for developers. Its popularity in both Node.js and browser environments enhances its community backing.

  • zlib:

    zlib has a large and established community due to its long-standing presence in the Node.js ecosystem. It is well-supported with extensive documentation and resources available for developers.

  • node-gzip:

    node-gzip has a smaller community compared to zlib but is actively maintained. It benefits from the broader Node.js ecosystem, allowing developers to find support and resources easily.

How to Choose: pako vs zlib vs node-gzip
  • pako:

    Choose pako if you need a fast and versatile compression library that supports both Gzip and Zlib formats. It is particularly useful for client-side applications or when working with binary data in the browser, as it is designed to be lightweight and efficient.

  • zlib:

    Choose zlib if you are looking for a built-in Node.js module that provides a comprehensive set of compression and decompression functionalities. It is suitable for server-side applications that require robust handling of various compression formats, including Gzip and Deflate.

  • node-gzip:

    Choose node-gzip if you require a simple and efficient way to compress and decompress data using the Gzip format specifically tailored for Node.js environments. It is ideal for applications that need to handle Gzip compression seamlessly with minimal configuration.

Similar Npm Packages to pako

pako is a fast and efficient JavaScript library for data compression and decompression using the DEFLATE algorithm. It is particularly useful for web applications that need to handle large amounts of data, allowing developers to compress data before sending it over the network and decompress it on the client side. Pako is designed to be compatible with both Node.js and browser environments, making it a versatile choice for various JavaScript projects.

While pako is a popular choice for compression tasks, there are other libraries that offer similar functionality. Here are a few alternatives:

  • node-gzip is a simple and lightweight library for Gzip compression and decompression in Node.js applications. It provides a straightforward API for compressing and decompressing data using Gzip, making it a good choice for server-side applications that require basic Gzip functionality. If you're looking for a minimalistic solution specifically for Node.js, node-gzip can be a suitable alternative to pako.
  • zlib is a built-in Node.js module that provides compression and decompression functionalities using the DEFLATE and Gzip algorithms. It is a powerful and efficient option for handling compressed data in Node.js applications. While zlib is not as user-friendly as pako for browser environments, it is a robust choice for server-side applications that require high-performance compression. If you are working exclusively within a Node.js environment and need a native solution, zlib is an excellent option.

To see how pako compares with node-gzip and zlib, check out the comparison: Comparing node-gzip vs pako vs zlib.

Similar Npm Packages to zlib

zlib is a built-in Node.js module that provides compression and decompression functionalities using the DEFLATE algorithm. It is widely used for compressing data to reduce the size of files or network transmissions, making it an essential tool for optimizing performance in web applications and services. While zlib is a powerful and efficient option, there are several alternatives available that cater to different use cases. Here are a few notable alternatives:

  • gzip-js is a pure JavaScript implementation of the Gzip compression algorithm. It is designed to work in both Node.js and browser environments, making it a versatile choice for developers looking to compress data without relying on native modules. gzip-js is particularly useful for projects that require a lightweight solution and want to avoid the overhead of native dependencies. However, it may not be as performant as native implementations like zlib for large datasets.
  • node-gzip is a simple and straightforward library for Gzip compression in Node.js. It provides an easy-to-use API for compressing and decompressing data, making it a great option for developers who want to leverage Gzip without dealing with the complexities of the zlib module. node-gzip is particularly useful for applications that need to handle Gzip data but prefer a more user-friendly interface compared to the native zlib module.
  • pako is a high-performance JavaScript library for data compression and decompression, supporting both Gzip and DEFLATE formats. It is designed to work in both Node.js and browser environments, making it a flexible choice for various applications. pako is known for its speed and efficiency, making it suitable for applications that require fast compression and decompression, especially when handling large amounts of data.

To see how zlib compares with gzip-js, node-gzip, and pako, check out the comparison: Comparing gzip-js vs node-gzip vs pako vs zlib.

Similar Npm Packages to node-gzip

node-gzip is a lightweight library for compressing and decompressing data using the Gzip algorithm in Node.js applications. It provides an easy-to-use interface for handling Gzip compression, making it a popular choice for developers looking to optimize data transfer and storage. While node-gzip offers a straightforward solution for Gzip compression, there are other libraries that also provide similar functionality. Here are a few alternatives:

  • gzip-js is a pure JavaScript implementation of the Gzip compression algorithm. It is designed to work in both Node.js and browser environments, making it versatile for various applications. gzip-js is particularly useful for projects where you want to avoid native dependencies or need a lightweight solution for Gzip compression. Its compatibility with both environments allows developers to use it seamlessly in client-side and server-side applications.
  • pako is another popular library for data compression and decompression, supporting both Gzip and Deflate formats. It is built on top of the zlib library and is optimized for performance, making it suitable for handling large data sets. pako is often favored for its speed and efficiency, especially in scenarios where performance is critical, such as in web applications that require fast data processing. Its ability to handle both Gzip and Deflate makes it a versatile choice for developers needing robust compression solutions.

To see how node-gzip compares with gzip-js and pako, check out the comparison: Comparing gzip-js vs node-gzip vs pako.

README for pako

pako

CI NPM version

zlib port to javascript, very fast!

Why pako is cool:

  • Results are binary equal to well known zlib (now contains ported zlib v1.2.8).
  • Almost as fast in modern JS engines as C implementation (see benchmarks).
  • Works in browsers, you can browserify any separate component.

This project was done to understand how fast JS can be and is it necessary to develop native C modules for CPU-intensive tasks. Enjoy the result!

Benchmarks:

node v12.16.3 (zlib 1.2.9), 1mb input sample:

deflate-imaya x 4.75 ops/sec ±4.93% (15 runs sampled)
deflate-pako x 10.38 ops/sec ±0.37% (29 runs sampled)
deflate-zlib x 17.74 ops/sec ±0.77% (46 runs sampled)
gzip-pako x 8.86 ops/sec ±1.41% (29 runs sampled)
inflate-imaya x 107 ops/sec ±0.69% (77 runs sampled)
inflate-pako x 131 ops/sec ±1.74% (82 runs sampled)
inflate-zlib x 258 ops/sec ±0.66% (88 runs sampled)
ungzip-pako x 115 ops/sec ±1.92% (80 runs sampled)

node v14.15.0 (google's zlib), 1mb output sample:

deflate-imaya x 4.93 ops/sec ±3.09% (16 runs sampled)
deflate-pako x 10.22 ops/sec ±0.33% (29 runs sampled)
deflate-zlib x 18.48 ops/sec ±0.24% (48 runs sampled)
gzip-pako x 10.16 ops/sec ±0.25% (28 runs sampled)
inflate-imaya x 110 ops/sec ±0.41% (77 runs sampled)
inflate-pako x 134 ops/sec ±0.66% (83 runs sampled)
inflate-zlib x 402 ops/sec ±0.74% (87 runs sampled)
ungzip-pako x 113 ops/sec ±0.62% (80 runs sampled)

zlib's test is partially affected by marshalling (that make sense for inflate only). You can change deflate level to 0 in benchmark source, to investigate details. For deflate level 6 results can be considered as correct.

Install:

npm install pako

Examples / API

Full docs - http://nodeca.github.io/pako/

const pako = require('pako');

// Deflate
//
const input = new Uint8Array();
//... fill input data here
const output = pako.deflate(input);

// Inflate (simple wrapper can throw exception on broken stream)
//
const compressed = new Uint8Array();
//... fill data to uncompress here
try {
  const result = pako.inflate(compressed);
  // ... continue processing
} catch (err) {
  console.log(err);
}

//
// Alternate interface for chunking & without exceptions
//

const deflator = new pako.Deflate();

deflator.push(chunk1, false);
deflator.push(chunk2); // second param is false by default.
...
deflator.push(chunk_last, true); // `true` says this chunk is last

if (deflator.err) {
  console.log(deflator.msg);
}

const output = deflator.result;


const inflator = new pako.Inflate();

inflator.push(chunk1);
inflator.push(chunk2);
...
inflator.push(chunk_last); // no second param because end is auto-detected

if (inflator.err) {
  console.log(inflator.msg);
}

const output = inflator.result;

Sometime you can wish to work with strings. For example, to send stringified objects to server. Pako's deflate detects input data type, and automatically recode strings to utf-8 prior to compress. Inflate has special option, to say compressed data has utf-8 encoding and should be recoded to javascript's utf-16.

const pako = require('pako');

const test = { my: 'super', puper: [456, 567], awesome: 'pako' };

const compressed = pako.deflate(JSON.stringify(test));

const restored = JSON.parse(pako.inflate(compressed, { to: 'string' }));

Notes

Pako does not contain some specific zlib functions:

  • deflate - methods deflateCopy, deflateBound, deflateParams, deflatePending, deflatePrime, deflateTune.
  • inflate - methods inflateCopy, inflateMark, inflatePrime, inflateGetDictionary, inflateSync, inflateSyncPoint, inflateUndermine.
  • High level inflate/deflate wrappers (classes) may not support some flush modes.

pako for enterprise

Available as part of the Tidelift Subscription

The maintainers of pako and thousands of other packages are working with Tidelift to deliver commercial support and maintenance for the open source dependencies you use to build your applications. Save time, reduce risk, and improve code health, while paying the maintainers of the exact dependencies you use. Learn more.

Authors

Personal thanks to:

  • Vyacheslav Egorov (@mraleph) for his awesome tutorials about optimising JS code for v8, IRHydra tool and his advices.
  • David Duponchel (@dduponchel) for help with testing.

Original implementation (in C):

  • zlib by Jean-loup Gailly and Mark Adler.

License

  • MIT - all files, except /lib/zlib folder
  • ZLIB - /lib/zlib content
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