Node.js Stream readable.setEncoding() Method

The readable.setEncoding() method in a Readable Stream is used to set the encoding of the data read.

Syntax:

readable.setEncoding( encoding )

Parameters: This method accepts single parameter encoding which holds the encoding type.

Return Value: It returns the data in the encoded form.

Below examples illustrate the use of readable.setEncoding() method in Node.js:

Example 1:

// Node.js program to demonstrate the
// readable.setEncoding() method

// Include fs module
const fs = require('fs');

// Create readable stream
const readable = fs.createReadStream("input.txt");

// Calling setEncoding method
readable.setEncoding('hex');

// Handling data event
readable.on('data', (chunk) => {
  console.log(`${chunk}`);
});

// Displays that program
// is ended
console.log("Program ends!!");

Output:

Program ends!!
48656c6c6f

Example 2:

// Node.js program to demonstrate the
// readable.setEncoding() method

// Include fs module
const fs = require('fs');

// Create readable stream
const readable = fs.createReadStream("input.txt");

// Calling setEncoding method
readable.setEncoding('base64');

// Handling data event
readable.on('data', (chunk) => {
  console.log(`${chunk}`);
});

// Displays that program
// is ended
console.log("Program ends!!");

Output:

Program ends!!
SGVs
bG8=

Reference: https://nodejs.org/api/stream.html#stream_readable_setencoding_encoding