Encoding API

This is an experimental technology
Check the Browser compatibility table carefully before using this in production.

The Encoding API provides a mechanism for handling text in various character encodings, including legacy non-UTF-8 encodings.

The API provides two interfaces: TextDecoder and  TextEncoder.

Interfaces

Tutorials & tools

  • A shim allowing to use this interface in browsers that don't support it.
  • StringView – a C-like representation of strings based on typed arrays.

Specifications

Specification Status Comment
Encoding Living Standard Initial definition.

Browser compatibility

TextDecoder

Update compatibility data on GitHub
DesktopMobile
ChromeEdgeFirefoxInternet ExplorerOperaSafariAndroid webviewChrome for AndroidEdge MobileFirefox for AndroidOpera for AndroidSafari on iOSSamsung Internet
Basic supportChrome Full support 38Edge ? Firefox Full support 19
Full support 19
Partial support 18
Notes
Notes Implemented a slightly different version of the spec.
IE No support NoOpera Full support 25Safari Full support 10.1WebView Android Full support 38Chrome Android Full support 38Edge Mobile ? Firefox Android Full support 19
Full support 19
Partial support 18
Notes
Notes Implemented a slightly different version of the spec.
Opera Android ? Safari iOS Full support 10.1Samsung Internet Android ?
Available in workersChrome Full support 38Edge ? Firefox Full support 20IE No support NoOpera Full support 25Safari Full support 10.1WebView Android Full support 38Chrome Android Full support 38Edge Mobile ? Firefox Android Full support 20Opera Android ? Safari iOS Full support 10.1Samsung Internet Android ?
TextDecoder() constructorChrome Full support 38Edge ? Firefox Full support 19
Full support 19
Partial support 18
Notes
Notes Implemented a slightly different version of the spec.
IE No support NoOpera Full support 25Safari Full support 10.1WebView Android Full support 38Chrome Android Full support 38Edge Mobile ? Firefox Android Full support 19
Full support 19
Partial support 18
Notes
Notes Implemented a slightly different version of the spec.
Opera Android ? Safari iOS Full support 10.1Samsung Internet Android ?
decodeChrome Full support 38Edge ? Firefox Full support 19
Full support 19
Partial support 18
Notes
Notes Implemented a slightly different version of the spec.
IE No support NoOpera Full support 25Safari Full support 10.1WebView Android Full support 38Chrome Android Full support 38Edge Mobile ? Firefox Android Full support 19
Full support 19
Partial support 18
Notes
Notes Implemented a slightly different version of the spec.
Opera Android ? Safari iOS Full support 10.1Samsung Internet Android ?
encodingChrome Full support 38Edge ? Firefox Full support 19
Full support 19
Partial support 18
Notes
Notes Implemented a slightly different version of the spec.
IE No support NoOpera Full support 25Safari Full support 10.1WebView Android Full support 38Chrome Android Full support 38Edge Mobile ? Firefox Android Full support 19
Full support 19
Partial support 18
Notes
Notes Implemented a slightly different version of the spec.
Opera Android ? Safari iOS Full support 10.1Samsung Internet Android ?
fatalChrome ? Edge ? Firefox ? IE ? Opera ? Safari Full support 10.1WebView Android ? Chrome Android ? Edge Mobile ? Firefox Android ? Opera Android ? Safari iOS Full support 10.1Samsung Internet Android ?
ignoreBOMChrome ? Edge ? Firefox ? IE ? Opera ? Safari Full support 10.1WebView Android ? Chrome Android ? Edge Mobile ? Firefox Android ? Opera Android ? Safari iOS Full support 10.1Samsung Internet Android ?

Legend

Full support  
Full support
No support  
No support
Compatibility unknown  
Compatibility unknown
See implementation notes.
See implementation notes.

TextEncoder

Update compatibility data on GitHub
DesktopMobile
ChromeEdgeFirefoxInternet ExplorerOperaSafariAndroid webviewChrome for AndroidEdge MobileFirefox for AndroidOpera for AndroidSafari on iOSSamsung Internet
Basic support
Experimental
Chrome Full support 38Edge ? Firefox Full support 19
Full support 19
Full support 18
Notes
Notes Firefox 18 implemented an earlier and slightly different version of the specification.
IE No support NoOpera Full support 25Safari Full support 10.1WebView Android Full support 38Chrome Android Full support 38Edge Mobile ? Firefox Android Full support 19
Full support 19
Full support 18
Notes
Notes Firefox 18 implemented an earlier and slightly different version of the specification.
Opera Android ? Safari iOS Full support 10.1Samsung Internet Android ?
Available in Web Workers
Experimental
Chrome Full support 38Edge ? Firefox Full support 20IE No support NoOpera Full support 25Safari Full support 10.1WebView Android Full support 38Chrome Android Full support 38Edge Mobile ? Firefox Android Full support 20Opera Android ? Safari iOS Full support 10.1Samsung Internet Android ?
TextEncoder() constructor
Experimental
Chrome Full support 53
Notes
Full support 53
Notes
Notes Does not accept parameters. Supports only utf-8 encoding.
No support 38 — 53
Notes
Notes Throws RangeError exception for unknown encoding types.
Edge ? Firefox Full support 48
Notes
Full support 48
Notes
Notes The constructor accepts an encoding type label argument, but the value is ignored. Only utf-8 encoding is supported.
No support 38 — 48
Notes
Notes If the encoding type label argument is invalid, then a RangeError exception is thrown.
No support 19 — 38
Notes
Notes If the encoding type label argument is invalid, then a TypeError exception is thrown.
Full support 18
Notes
Notes Firefox 18 implemented an earlier and slightly different version of the specification.
IE No support NoOpera Full support 25Safari Full support 10.1WebView Android Full support 38Chrome Android Full support 38Edge Mobile ? Firefox Android Full support 48
Notes
Full support 48
Notes
Notes The constructor accepts an encoding type label argument, but the value is ignored. Only utf-8 encoding is supported.
No support 38 — 48
Notes
Notes If the encoding type label argument is invalid, then a RangeError exception is thrown.
No support 19 — 38
Notes
Notes If the encoding type label argument is invalid, then a TypeError exception is thrown.
Full support 18
Notes
Notes Firefox 18 implemented an earlier and slightly different version of the specification.
Opera Android ? Safari iOS Full support 10.1Samsung Internet Android ?
encoding
Experimental
Chrome Full support 38Edge ? Firefox Full support 19
Full support 19
Full support 18
Notes
Notes Firefox 18 implemented an earlier and slightly different version of the specification.
IE No support NoOpera Full support 25Safari Full support 10.1WebView Android Full support 38Chrome Android Full support 38Edge Mobile ? Firefox Android Full support 19
Full support 19
Full support 18
Notes
Notes Firefox 18 implemented an earlier and slightly different version of the specification.
Opera Android ? Safari iOS Full support 10.1Samsung Internet Android ?
encode
Experimental
Chrome Full support 38Edge ? Firefox Full support 19
Full support 19
Full support 18
Notes
Notes Firefox 18 implemented an earlier and slightly different version of the specification.
IE No support NoOpera Full support 25Safari Full support 10.1WebView Android Full support 38Chrome Android Full support 38Edge Mobile ? Firefox Android Full support 19
Full support 19
Full support 18
Notes
Notes Firefox 18 implemented an earlier and slightly different version of the specification.
Opera Android ? Safari iOS Full support 10.1Samsung Internet Android ?

Legend

Full support  
Full support
No support  
No support
Compatibility unknown  
Compatibility unknown
Experimental. Expect behavior to change in the future.
Experimental. Expect behavior to change in the future.
See implementation notes.
See implementation notes.

Document Tags and Contributors

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Contributors to this page: ExE-Boss, fscholz, sideshowbarker, NIPE-SYSTEMS, teoli, jpmedley, kscarfone, realityking, fusionchess
Last updated by: ExE-Boss,