Compression and decompression in the browser with the Compression Streams API

The Compression Streams API is for compressing and decompressing streams of data using the gzip or deflate (or deflate-raw) formats.

With built in compression JavaScript applications do not need to include a compression library, making the download size of the application smaller. Stable Chrome and Safari Technology Preview now support this useful API. Compressing data is shown below.

const readableStream = await fetch('lorem.txt').then(
  (response) => response.body
);
const compressedReadableStream = readableStream.pipeThrough(
  new CompressionStream('gzip')
);

To decompress, pipe a compressed stream through the decompression stream.

const decompressedReadableStream = compressedReadableStream.pipeThrough(
  new DecompressionStream('gzip')
);

# Demo

# Browser support

The Compression Streams API is supported from Chromium 80 and Safari Technology Preview 152. For other browsers, check CanIUse.

# Acknowledgements

Hero image by Matt Artz on Unsplash.