Node.js v24.6.0 documentation

util.callbackify(original)#

• original <Function> An async function
• Returns: <Function> a callback style function

Takes an async function (or a function that returns a Promise) and returns a function following the error-first callback style, i.e. taking an (err, value) => ... callback as the last argument. In the callback, the first argument will be the rejection reason (or null if the Promise resolved), and the second argument will be the resolved value.

import { callbackify } from 'node:util';

async function fn() {
  return 'hello world';
}
const callbackFunction = callbackify(fn);

callbackFunction((err, ret) => {
  if (err) throw err;
  console.log(ret);
});const { callbackify } = require('node:util');

async function fn() {
  return 'hello world';
}
const callbackFunction = callbackify(fn);

callbackFunction((err, ret) => {
  if (err) throw err;
  console.log(ret);
});copy

Will print:

hello world copy

The callback is executed asynchronously, and will have a limited stack trace. If the callback throws, the process will emit an 'uncaughtException' event, and if not handled will exit.

Since null has a special meaning as the first argument to a callback, if a wrapped function rejects a Promise with a falsy value as a reason, the value is wrapped in an Error with the original value stored in a field named reason.

function fn() {
  return Promise.reject(null);
}
const callbackFunction = util.callbackify(fn);

callbackFunction((err, ret) => {
  // When the Promise was rejected with `null` it is wrapped with an Error and
  // the original value is stored in `reason`.
  err && Object.hasOwn(err, 'reason') && err.reason === null;  // true
}); copy

util.debuglog(section[, callback])#

• section <string> A string identifying the portion of the application for which the debuglog function is being created.
• callback <Function> A callback invoked the first time the logging function is called with a function argument that is a more optimized logging function.
• Returns: <Function> The logging function

The util.debuglog() method is used to create a function that conditionally writes debug messages to stderr based on the existence of the NODE_DEBUG environment variable. If the section name appears within the value of that environment variable, then the returned function operates similar to console.error(). If not, then the returned function is a no-op.

import { debuglog } from 'node:util';
const log = debuglog('foo');

log('hello from foo [%d]', 123);const { debuglog } = require('node:util');
const log = debuglog('foo');

log('hello from foo [%d]', 123);copy

If this program is run with NODE_DEBUG=foo in the environment, then it will output something like:

FOO 3245: hello from foo [123] copy

where 3245 is the process id. If it is not run with that environment variable set, then it will not print anything.

The section supports wildcard also:

import { debuglog } from 'node:util';
const log = debuglog('foo');

log('hi there, it\'s foo-bar [%d]', 2333);const { debuglog } = require('node:util');
const log = debuglog('foo');

log('hi there, it\'s foo-bar [%d]', 2333);copy

if it is run with NODE_DEBUG=foo* in the environment, then it will output something like:

FOO-BAR 3257: hi there, it's foo-bar [2333] copy

Multiple comma-separated section names may be specified in the NODE_DEBUG environment variable: NODE_DEBUG=fs,net,tls.

The optional callback argument can be used to replace the logging function with a different function that doesn't have any initialization or unnecessary wrapping.

import { debuglog } from 'node:util';
let log = debuglog('internals', (debug) => {
  // Replace with a logging function that optimizes out
  // testing if the section is enabled
  log = debug;
});const { debuglog } = require('node:util');
let log = debuglog('internals', (debug) => {
  // Replace with a logging function that optimizes out
  // testing if the section is enabled
  log = debug;
});copy

import { debuglog } from 'node:util';
const enabled = debuglog('foo').enabled;
if (enabled) {
  console.log('hello from foo [%d]', 123);
}const { debuglog } = require('node:util');
const enabled = debuglog('foo').enabled;
if (enabled) {
  console.log('hello from foo [%d]', 123);
}copy

hello from foo [123] copy

util.debug(section)#

Alias for util.debuglog. Usage allows for readability of that doesn't imply logging when only using util.debuglog().enabled.

util.deprecate(fn, msg[, code])#

• fn <Function> The function that is being deprecated.
• msg <string> A warning message to display when the deprecated function is invoked.
• code <string> A deprecation code. See the list of deprecated APIs for a list of codes.
• Returns: <Function> The deprecated function wrapped to emit a warning.

The util.deprecate() method wraps fn (which may be a function or class) in such a way that it is marked as deprecated.

import { deprecate } from 'node:util';

export const obsoleteFunction = deprecate(() => {
  // Do something here.
}, 'obsoleteFunction() is deprecated. Use newShinyFunction() instead.');const { deprecate } = require('node:util');

exports.obsoleteFunction = deprecate(() => {
  // Do something here.
}, 'obsoleteFunction() is deprecated. Use newShinyFunction() instead.');copy

When called, util.deprecate() will return a function that will emit a DeprecationWarning using the 'warning' event. The warning will be emitted and printed to stderr the first time the returned function is called. After the warning is emitted, the wrapped function is called without emitting a warning.

If the same optional code is supplied in multiple calls to util.deprecate(), the warning will be emitted only once for that code.

import { deprecate } from 'node:util';

const fn1 = deprecate(
  () => 'a value',
  'deprecation message',
  'DEP0001',
);
const fn2 = deprecate(
  () => 'a  different value',
  'other dep message',
  'DEP0001',
);
fn1(); // Emits a deprecation warning with code DEP0001
fn2(); // Does not emit a deprecation warning because it has the same codeconst { deprecate } = require('node:util');

const fn1 = deprecate(
  function() {
    return 'a value';
  },
  'deprecation message',
  'DEP0001',
);
const fn2 = deprecate(
  function() {
    return 'a  different value';
  },
  'other dep message',
  'DEP0001',
);
fn1(); // Emits a deprecation warning with code DEP0001
fn2(); // Does not emit a deprecation warning because it has the same codecopy

If either the --no-deprecation or --no-warnings command-line flags are used, or if the process.noDeprecation property is set to true prior to the first deprecation warning, the util.deprecate() method does nothing.

If the --trace-deprecation or --trace-warnings command-line flags are set, or the process.traceDeprecation property is set to true, a warning and a stack trace are printed to stderr the first time the deprecated function is called.

If the --throw-deprecation command-line flag is set, or the process.throwDeprecation property is set to true, then an exception will be thrown when the deprecated function is called.

The --throw-deprecation command-line flag and process.throwDeprecation property take precedence over --trace-deprecation and process.traceDeprecation.

util.diff(actual, expected)#

• actual <Array> | <string> The first value to compare

• expected <Array> | <string> The second value to compare

• Returns: <Array> An array of difference entries. Each entry is an array with two elements:

  • 0 <number> Operation code: -1 for delete, 0 for no-op/unchanged, 1 for insert
  • 1 <string> The value associated with the operation

• Algorithm complexity: O(N*D), where:

• N is the total length of the two sequences combined (N = actual.length + expected.length)

• D is the edit distance (the minimum number of operations required to transform one sequence into the other).

util.diff() compares two string or array values and returns an array of difference entries. It uses the Myers diff algorithm to compute minimal differences, which is the same algorithm used internally by assertion error messages.

If the values are equal, an empty array is returned.

const { diff } = require('node:util');

// Comparing strings
const actualString = '12345678';
const expectedString = '12!!5!7!';
console.log(diff(actualString, expectedString));
// [
//   [0, '1'],
//   [0, '2'],
//   [1, '3'],
//   [1, '4'],
//   [-1, '!'],
//   [-1, '!'],
//   [0, '5'],
//   [1, '6'],
//   [-1, '!'],
//   [0, '7'],
//   [1, '8'],
//   [-1, '!'],
// ]
// Comparing arrays
const actualArray = ['1', '2', '3'];
const expectedArray = ['1', '3', '4'];
console.log(diff(actualArray, expectedArray));
// [
//   [0, '1'],
//   [1, '2'],
//   [0, '3'],
//   [-1, '4'],
// ]
// Equal values return empty array
console.log(diff('same', 'same'));
// [] copy

util.format(format[, ...args])#

• format <string> A printf-like format string.

The util.format() method returns a formatted string using the first argument as a printf-like format string which can contain zero or more format specifiers. Each specifier is replaced with the converted value from the corresponding argument. Supported specifiers are:

• %s: String will be used to convert all values except BigInt, Object and -0. BigInt values will be represented with an n and Objects that have neither a user defined toString function nor Symbol.toPrimitive function are inspected using util.inspect() with options { depth: 0, colors: false, compact: 3 }.
• %d: Number will be used to convert all values except BigInt and Symbol.
• %i: parseInt(value, 10) is used for all values except BigInt and Symbol.
• %f: parseFloat(value) is used for all values expect Symbol.
• %j: JSON. Replaced with the string '[Circular]' if the argument contains circular references.
• %o: Object. A string representation of an object with generic JavaScript object formatting. Similar to util.inspect() with options { showHidden: true, showProxy: true }. This will show the full object including non-enumerable properties and proxies.
• %O: Object. A string representation of an object with generic JavaScript object formatting. Similar to util.inspect() without options. This will show the full object not including non-enumerable properties and proxies.
• %c: CSS. This specifier is ignored and will skip any CSS passed in.
• %%: single percent sign ('%'). This does not consume an argument.
• Returns: <string> The formatted string

If a specifier does not have a corresponding argument, it is not replaced:

util.format('%s:%s', 'foo');
// Returns: 'foo:%s' copy

Values that are not part of the format string are formatted using util.inspect() if their type is not string.

If there are more arguments passed to the util.format() method than the number of specifiers, the extra arguments are concatenated to the returned string, separated by spaces:

util.format('%s:%s', 'foo', 'bar', 'baz');
// Returns: 'foo:bar baz' copy

If the first argument does not contain a valid format specifier, util.format() returns a string that is the concatenation of all arguments separated by spaces:

util.format(1, 2, 3);
// Returns: '1 2 3' copy

If only one argument is passed to util.format(), it is returned as it is without any formatting:

util.format('%% %s');
// Returns: '%% %s' copy

util.format() is a synchronous method that is intended as a debugging tool. Some input values can have a significant performance overhead that can block the event loop. Use this function with care and never in a hot code path.

util.formatWithOptions(inspectOptions, format[, ...args])#

• inspectOptions <Object>
• format <string>

This function is identical to util.format(), except in that it takes an inspectOptions argument which specifies options that are passed along to util.inspect().

util.formatWithOptions({ colors: true }, 'See object %O', { foo: 42 });
// Returns 'See object { foo: 42 }', where `42` is colored as a number
// when printed to a terminal. copy

util.getCallSites([frameCount][, options])#

• frameCount <number> Optional number of frames to capture as call site objects. Default: 10. Allowable range is between 1 and 200.
• options <Object> Optional
  • sourceMap <boolean> Reconstruct the original location in the stacktrace from the source-map. Enabled by default with the flag --enable-source-maps.
• Returns: <Object[]> An array of call site objects
  • functionName <string> Returns the name of the function associated with this call site.
  • scriptName <string> Returns the name of the resource that contains the script for the function for this call site.
  • scriptId <string> Returns the unique id of the script, as in Chrome DevTools protocol Runtime.ScriptId.
  • lineNumber <number> Returns the JavaScript script line number (1-based).
  • columnNumber <number> Returns the JavaScript script column number (1-based).

Returns an array of call site objects containing the stack of the caller function.

import { getCallSites } from 'node:util';

function exampleFunction() {
  const callSites = getCallSites();

  console.log('Call Sites:');
  callSites.forEach((callSite, index) => {
    console.log(`CallSite ${index + 1}:`);
    console.log(`Function Name: ${callSite.functionName}`);
    console.log(`Script Name: ${callSite.scriptName}`);
    console.log(`Line Number: ${callSite.lineNumber}`);
    console.log(`Column Number: ${callSite.column}`);
  });
  // CallSite 1:
  // Function Name: exampleFunction
  // Script Name: /home/example.js
  // Line Number: 5
  // Column Number: 26

  // CallSite 2:
  // Function Name: anotherFunction
  // Script Name: /home/example.js
  // Line Number: 22
  // Column Number: 3

  // ...
}

// A function to simulate another stack layer
function anotherFunction() {
  exampleFunction();
}

anotherFunction();const { getCallSites } = require('node:util');

function exampleFunction() {
  const callSites = getCallSites();

  console.log('Call Sites:');
  callSites.forEach((callSite, index) => {
    console.log(`CallSite ${index + 1}:`);
    console.log(`Function Name: ${callSite.functionName}`);
    console.log(`Script Name: ${callSite.scriptName}`);
    console.log(`Line Number: ${callSite.lineNumber}`);
    console.log(`Column Number: ${callSite.column}`);
  });
  // CallSite 1:
  // Function Name: exampleFunction
  // Script Name: /home/example.js
  // Line Number: 5
  // Column Number: 26

  // CallSite 2:
  // Function Name: anotherFunction
  // Script Name: /home/example.js
  // Line Number: 22
  // Column Number: 3

  // ...
}

// A function to simulate another stack layer
function anotherFunction() {
  exampleFunction();
}

anotherFunction();copy

It is possible to reconstruct the original locations by setting the option sourceMap to true. If the source map is not available, the original location will be the same as the current location. When the --enable-source-maps flag is enabled, for example when using --experimental-transform-types, sourceMap will be true by default.

import { getCallSites } from 'node:util';

interface Foo {
  foo: string;
}

const callSites = getCallSites({ sourceMap: true });

// With sourceMap:
// Function Name: ''
// Script Name: example.js
// Line Number: 7
// Column Number: 26

// Without sourceMap:
// Function Name: ''
// Script Name: example.js
// Line Number: 2
// Column Number: 26 copy

const { getCallSites } = require('node:util');

const callSites = getCallSites({ sourceMap: true });

// With sourceMap:
// Function Name: ''
// Script Name: example.js
// Line Number: 7
// Column Number: 26

// Without sourceMap:
// Function Name: ''
// Script Name: example.js
// Line Number: 2
// Column Number: 26 copy

util.getSystemErrorName(err)#

• err <number>
• Returns: <string>

Returns the string name for a numeric error code that comes from a Node.js API. The mapping between error codes and error names is platform-dependent. See Common System Errors for the names of common errors.

fs.access('file/that/does/not/exist', (err) => {
  const name = util.getSystemErrorName(err.errno);
  console.error(name);  // ENOENT
}); copy

util.getSystemErrorMap()#

• Returns: <Map>

Returns a Map of all system error codes available from the Node.js API. The mapping between error codes and error names is platform-dependent. See Common System Errors for the names of common errors.

fs.access('file/that/does/not/exist', (err) => {
  const errorMap = util.getSystemErrorMap();
  const name = errorMap.get(err.errno);
  console.error(name);  // ENOENT
}); copy

util.getSystemErrorMessage(err)#

• err <number>
• Returns: <string>

Returns the string message for a numeric error code that comes from a Node.js API. The mapping between error codes and string messages is platform-dependent.

fs.access('file/that/does/not/exist', (err) => {
  const message = util.getSystemErrorMessage(err.errno);
  console.error(message);  // No such file or directory
}); copy

util.setTraceSigInt(enable)#

• enable <boolean>

Enable or disable printing a stack trace on SIGINT. The API is only available on the main thread.

util.inherits(constructor, superConstructor)#

• constructor <Function>
• superConstructor <Function>

Usage of util.inherits() is discouraged. Please use the ES6 class and extends keywords to get language level inheritance support. Also note that the two styles are semantically incompatible.

Inherit the prototype methods from one constructor into another. The prototype of constructor will be set to a new object created from superConstructor.

This mainly adds some input validation on top of Object.setPrototypeOf(constructor.prototype, superConstructor.prototype). As an additional convenience, superConstructor will be accessible through the constructor.super_ property.

const util = require('node:util');
const EventEmitter = require('node:events');

function MyStream() {
  EventEmitter.call(this);
}

util.inherits(MyStream, EventEmitter);

MyStream.prototype.write = function(data) {
  this.emit('data', data);
};

const stream = new MyStream();

console.log(stream instanceof EventEmitter); // true
console.log(MyStream.super_ === EventEmitter); // true

stream.on('data', (data) => {
  console.log(`Received data: "${data}"`);
});
stream.write('It works!'); // Received data: "It works!" copy

ES6 example using class and extends:

import EventEmitter from 'node:events';

class MyStream extends EventEmitter {
  write(data) {
    this.emit('data', data);
  }
}

const stream = new MyStream();

stream.on('data', (data) => {
  console.log(`Received data: "${data}"`);
});
stream.write('With ES6');const EventEmitter = require('node:events');

class MyStream extends EventEmitter {
  write(data) {
    this.emit('data', data);
  }
}

const stream = new MyStream();

stream.on('data', (data) => {
  console.log(`Received data: "${data}"`);
});
stream.write('With ES6');copy

util.inspect(object[, options])#

util.inspect(object[, showHidden[, depth[, colors]]])#

• object <any> Any JavaScript primitive or Object.
• options <Object>
  • showHidden <boolean> If true, object's non-enumerable symbols and properties are included in the formatted result. <WeakMap> and <WeakSet> entries are also included as well as user defined prototype properties (excluding method properties). Default: false.
  • depth <number> Specifies the number of times to recurse while formatting object. This is useful for inspecting large objects. To recurse up to the maximum call stack size pass Infinity or null. Default: 2.
  • colors <boolean> If true, the output is styled with ANSI color codes. Colors are customizable. See Customizing util.inspect colors. Default: false.
  • customInspect <boolean> If false, [util.inspect.custom](depth, opts, inspect) functions are not invoked. Default: true.
  • showProxy <boolean> If true, Proxy inspection includes the target and handler objects. Default: false.
  • maxArrayLength <integer> Specifies the maximum number of Array, <TypedArray>, <Map>, <WeakMap>, and <WeakSet> elements to include when formatting. Set to null or Infinity to show all elements. Set to 0 or negative to show no elements. Default: 100.
  • maxStringLength <integer> Specifies the maximum number of characters to include when formatting. Set to null or Infinity to show all elements. Set to 0 or negative to show no characters. Default: 10000.
  • breakLength <integer> The length at which input values are split across multiple lines. Set to Infinity to format the input as a single line (in combination with compact set to true or any number >= 1). Default: 80.
  • compact <boolean> | <integer> Setting this to false causes each object key to be displayed on a new line. It will break on new lines in text that is longer than breakLength. If set to a number, the most n inner elements are united on a single line as long as all properties fit into breakLength. Short array elements are also grouped together. For more information, see the example below. Default: 3.
  • sorted <boolean> | <Function> If set to true or a function, all properties of an object, and Set and Map entries are sorted in the resulting string. If set to true the default sort is used. If set to a function, it is used as a compare function.
  • getters <boolean> | <string> If set to true, getters are inspected. If set to 'get', only getters without a corresponding setter are inspected. If set to 'set', only getters with a corresponding setter are inspected. This might cause side effects depending on the getter function. Default: false.
  • numericSeparator <boolean> If set to true, an underscore is used to separate every three digits in all bigints and numbers. Default: false.
• Returns: <string> The representation of object.

The util.inspect() method returns a string representation of object that is intended for debugging. The output of util.inspect may change at any time and should not be depended upon programmatically. Additional options may be passed that alter the result. util.inspect() will use the constructor's name and/or Symbol.toStringTag property to make an identifiable tag for an inspected value.

class Foo {
  get [Symbol.toStringTag]() {
    return 'bar';
  }
}

class Bar {}

const baz = Object.create(null, { [Symbol.toStringTag]: { value: 'foo' } });

util.inspect(new Foo()); // 'Foo [bar] {}'
util.inspect(new Bar()); // 'Bar {}'
util.inspect(baz);       // '[foo] {}' copy

Circular references point to their anchor by using a reference index:

import { inspect } from 'node:util';

const obj = {};
obj.a = [obj];
obj.b = {};
obj.b.inner = obj.b;
obj.