Text encoding and decodingBaseline · Widely available

The TextEncoder API transforms a stream of code points into a byte stream with UTF-8 encoding, and TextDecoder does the reverse.

Supported in all major browsers for at least 30 months — safe to use without fallbacks. Baseline since Jan 15, 2020. Widely available since Jul 15, 2022.

How to use ↓Compare browsers

Browser support

DesktopChrome

1–37Not supported

38+Supportedsince Oct 7, 2014

Current: 155

Edge

12–18Not supported

79+Supportedsince Jan 15, 2020

Current: 154

Firefox

1–18Not supported

19+Supportedsince Feb 19, 2013

Current: 157

Safari

1–10Not supported

10.1+Supportedsince Mar 27, 2017

Current: 27

MobileChrome Android

18–37Not supported

38+Supportedsince Oct 8, 2014

Current: 155

Firefox Android

4–18Not supported

19+Supportedsince Feb 19, 2013

Current: 157

Safari iOS

1–10Not supported

10.3+Supportedsince Mar 27, 2017

Current: 27

How to use

This feature is Baseline widely available — use it freely, no fallback needed.

Example

Full syntax and examples are on MDN: TextDecoder.

Feature detection

JS · check before using

if ("TextDecoder" in globalThis && "encoding" in TextDecoder.prototype) {
  // TextDecoder.encoding is available
}

Documentation (MDN)

Specification

encoding.spec.whatwg.org ↗

Usage share

caniuse.com/textencoder ↗

Sub-features

Support for each part of the feature (25). The overall table above shows when the whole feature works.

Sub-feature	Chrome	Edge	Firefox	Safari	Chrome Android	Firefox Android	Safari iOS
TextDecoder	38	79	19	10.1	38	19	10.3
TextDecoder.TextDecoder	38	79	19	10.1	38	19	10.3
TextDecoder.decode	38	79	19	10.1	38	19	10.3
TextDecoder.encoding	38	79	19	10.1	38	19	10.3
TextDecoder.fatal	38	79	36	10.1	38	36	10.3
TextDecoder.ignoreBOM	38	79	63	10.1	38	63	10.3
TextDecoder.worker_support	38	79	20	10.1	38	20	10.3
TextDecoderStream	71	79	105	14.1	71	105	14.5
TextDecoderStream.TextDecoderStream	71	79	105	14.1	71	105	14.5
TextDecoderStream.encoding	71	79	105	14.1	71	105	14.5
TextDecoderStream.fatal	71	79	105	14.1	71	105	14.5
TextDecoderStream.ignoreBOM	71	79	105	14.1	71	105	14.5
TextDecoderStream.readable	71	79	105	14.1	71	105	14.5
TextDecoderStream.writable	71	79	105	14.1	71	105	14.5
TextEncoder	38	79	18	10.1	38	18	10.3
TextEncoder.TextEncoder	38	79	18	10.1	38	18	10.3
TextEncoder.encode	38	79	18	10.1	38	18	10.3
TextEncoder.encodeInto	74	79	66	14.1	74	66	14.5
TextEncoder.encoding	38	79	18	10.1	38	18	10.3
TextEncoder.worker_support	38	79	20	10.1	38	20	10.3

Show 5 more

Sub-feature	Chrome	Edge	Firefox	Safari	Chrome Android	Firefox Android	Safari iOS
TextEncoderStream	71	79	105	14.1	71	105	14.5
TextEncoderStream.TextEncoderStream	71	79	105	14.1	71	105	14.5
TextEncoderStream.encoding	71	79	105	14.1	71	105	14.5
TextEncoderStream.readable	71	79	105	14.1	71	105	14.5
TextEncoderStream.writable	71	79	105	14.1	71	105	14.5