ReadableStreamDefaultReader: ReadableStreamDefaultReader() constructor

The ReadableStreamDefaultReader() constructor creates and returns a ReadableStreamDefaultReader object instance.

Note: You generally wouldn't use this constructor manually; instead, you'd use the ReadableStream.getReader() method.

Syntax

js
new ReadableStreamDefaultReader(stream)

Parameters

stream

The ReadableStream to be read.

Return value

An instance of the ReadableStreamDefaultReader object.

Exceptions

TypeError

Thrown if the supplied stream parameter is not a ReadableStream, or it is already locked for reading by another reader.

Examples

In the following simple example, a previously-created custom ReadableStream is read using a ReadableStreamDefaultReader created using getReader(). (see our Simple random stream example for the full code). Each chunk is read sequentially and output to the UI, until the stream has finished being read, at which point we return out of the recursive function and print the entire stream to another part of the UI.

js
function fetchStream() {
  const reader = stream.getReader();
  let charsReceived = 0;

  // read() returns a promise that resolves
  // when a value has been received
  reader.read().then(function processText({ done, value }) {
    // Result objects contain two properties:
    // done  - true if the stream has already given you all its data.
    // value - some data. Always undefined when done is true.
    if (done) {
      console.log("Stream complete");
      para.textContent = result;
      return;
    }

    // value for fetch streams is a Uint8Array
    charsReceived += value.length;
    const chunk = value;
    let listItem = document.createElement("li");
    listItem.textContent = `Received ${charsReceived} characters so far. Current chunk = ${chunk}`;
    list2.appendChild(listItem);

    result += chunk;

    // Read some more, and call this function again
    return reader.read().then(processText);
  });
}

Specifications

Specification
Streams Standard
# ref-for-default-reader-constructor①

Browser compatibility

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See also