Streams
6 topics in this chapter
Stream Foundations
How Node.js moves chunked data through stream queues, consumption modes, and backpressure without treating every input as one value.
Readable Streams
How Node.js Readable streams buffer data, switch between flowing and paused mode, apply highWaterMark, and signal backpressure.
Writable Streams
How Writable streams accept chunks, buffer writes, use highWaterMark, return false from write, and emit drain for backpressure.
Transform Streams
How Transform and Duplex streams work in Node.js, how _transform and _flush emit output, and how backpressure crosses both sides.
Stream Pipeline
How pipe, stream.pipeline, finished, async pipeline stages, AbortSignal, side outputs, and partial-output cleanup work in current Node.js stream pipelines.
Zero-Copy Streams
How Buffer ownership, fs.copyFile, writev, _writev, cork, and copy-path measurement shape hot Node.js stream paths.