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name: buffer
type: library
summary: |
  A library of buffer functions.
description: |
  A buffer is an object that represents a fixed-size mutable block of memory.
  The buffer library provides functions for creation and manipulation of buffer
  objects, providing all its functions inside the global `Library.buffer`
  variable.

  Buffer is intended to be used a low-level binary data storage structure,
  replacing the uses of `Library.string.pack()` and `Library.string.unpack()`.
  Use cases include reading and writing existing binary formats, working with
  data in a more compact form, serialization to custom binary formats, and
  general work with native memory types like fixed-length integers and floats.

  When passed through Roblox APIs, including sending a buffer through custom
  events, the identity of the buffer object is not preserved and the target will
  receive a copy. Similar to other limitations, the same buffer object cannot be
  used from multiple `Class.Actor` scripts (Parallel Luau).

  Many of the functions accept an offset in bytes from the start of the buffer.
  Offset of `0` from the start of the buffer memory block accesses the first
  byte. All offsets, counts and sizes should be non-negative integer numbers. If
  the bytes that are accessed by any read or write operation are outside the
  buffer memory, an error is thrown.

  The `read` and `write` methods that work with integers and floats use
  [little-endian](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Endianness) encoding.
tags: []
code_samples: []
properties: []
functions:
  - name: buffer.create
    summary: |
      Creates a buffer.
    description: |
      Creates a buffer of the requested size with all bytes initialized to `0`.
      Size limit is 1 GiB, or 1,073,741,824 bytes. Keep in mind that larger
      buffers might fail to allocate if device is running low on memory.
    parameters:
      - name: size
        type: number
        default:
        summary: |
          Size of the buffer in bytes. Must be a positive integer.
    returns:
      - type: buffer
        summary: ''
    tags: []
    code_samples: []
    deprecation_message: ''
  - name: buffer.fromstring
    summary: |
      Creates a buffer from a string.
    description: |
      Creates a buffer initialized to the contents of the string. The size of
      the buffer equals the length of the string.
    parameters:
      - name: str
        type: string
        default:
        summary: ''
    returns:
      - type: buffer
        summary: ''
    tags: []
    code_samples: []
    deprecation_message: ''
  - name: buffer.tostring
    summary: |
      Converts a buffer to a string.
    description: |
      Returns the buffer data as a string.
    parameters:
      - name: b
        type: buffer
        default:
        summary: ''
    returns:
      - type: string
        summary: ''
    tags: []
    code_samples: []
    deprecation_message: ''
  - name: buffer.len
    summary: |
      Returns the size of the buffer in bytes.
    description: |
      Returns the size of the buffer in bytes.
    parameters:
      - name: b
        type: buffer
        default:
        summary: ''
    returns:
      - type: number
        summary: ''
    tags: []
    code_samples: []
    deprecation_message: ''
  - name: buffer.readbits
    summary: |
      Reads a range of bits into an unsigned integer from the buffer based on a
      specific `bitCount` integer from `0` to `32`, inclusive.
    description: |
      Reads a range of bits into an unsigned integer from the buffer based on a
      specific `bitCount` integer from `0` to `32`, inclusive. For example:

      - `buffer.readbits(b, 0, 8)` is equivalent to
        `Library.buffer.readu8(b, 0)`.
      - `buffer.readbits(b, 0, 16)` is equivalent to
        `Library.buffer.readu16(b, 0)`.
      - `buffer.readbits(b, 0, 32)` is equivalent to
        `Library.buffer.readu32(b, 0)`.
      - `buffer.readbits(b, 0, 24)` reads 24 bits from the buffer.

      Note that `0` bit width is supported only to not error in generalized
      cases where bit count is dynamic, and reading 0 bits returns `0`. Also
      note that, since the max size of the buffer is 1 GB, `bitOffset`
      cannot be handled as a 32‑bit integer number like byte offset in other
      buffer functions.
    parameters:
      - name: b
        type: buffer
        default:
        summary: ''
      - name: bitOffset
        type: number
        default:
        summary: |
          Offset from the beginning of the buffer memory, starting from `0`.
      - name: bitCount
        type: number
        default:
        summary: |
          Integer bit count to read. Error is thrown if this value is not in
          range of `0` to `32`, inclusive.
    returns:
      - type: number
        summary: ''
    tags: []
    code_samples: []
    deprecation_message: ''
  - name: buffer.readi8
    summary: |
      Reads an 8-bit signed integer from the buffer.
    description: |
      Reads the data from the buffer by reinterpreting bytes at the offset as an
      8-bit signed integer and converting it into a number.
    parameters:
      - name: b
        type: buffer
        default:
        summary: ''
      - name: offset
        type: number
        default:
        summary: |
          Offset from the beginning of the buffer memory, starting from `0`.
    returns:
      - type: number
        summary: ''
    tags: []
    code_samples: []
    deprecation_message: ''
  - name: buffer.readu8
    summary: |
      Reads an 8-bit unsigned integer from the buffer.
    description: |
      Reads the data from the buffer by reinterpreting bytes at the offset as an
      8-bit unsigned integer and converting it into a number.
    parameters:
      - name: b
        type: buffer
        default:
        summary: ''
      - name: offset
        type: number
        default:
        summary: |
          Offset from the beginning of the buffer memory, starting from `0`.
    returns:
      - type: number
        summary: ''
    tags: []
    code_samples: []
    deprecation_message: ''
  - name: buffer.readi16
    summary: |
      Reads a 16-bit signed integer from the buffer.
    description: |
      Reads the data from the buffer by reinterpreting bytes at the offset as a
      16-bit signed integer and converting it into a number.
    parameters:
      - name: b
        type: buffer
        default:
        summary: ''
      - name: offset
        type: number
        default:
        summary: |
          Offset from the beginning of the buffer memory, starting from `0`.
    returns:
      - type: number
        summary: ''
    tags: []
    code_samples: []
    deprecation_message: ''
  - name: buffer.readu16
    summary: |
      Reads a 16-bit unsigned integer from the buffer.
    description: |
      Reads the data from the buffer by reinterpreting bytes at the offset as a
      16-bit unsigned integer and converting it into a number.
    parameters:
      - name: b
        type: buffer
        default:
        summary: ''
      - name: offset
        type: number
        default:
        summary: |
          Offset from the beginning of the buffer memory, starting from `0`.
    returns:
      - type: number
        summary: ''
    tags: []
    code_samples: []
    deprecation_message: ''
  - name: buffer.readi32
    summary: |
      Reads a 32-bit signed integer from the buffer.
    description: |
      Reads the data from the buffer by reinterpreting bytes at the offset as a
      32-bit signed integer and converting it into a number.
    parameters:
      - name: b
        type: buffer
        default:
        summary: ''
      - name: offset
        type: number
        default:
        summary: |
          Offset from the beginning of the buffer memory, starting from `0`.
    returns:
      - type: number
        summary: ''
    tags: []
    code_samples: []
    deprecation_message: ''
  - name: buffer.readu32
    summary: |
      Reads a 32-bit unsigned integer from the buffer.
    description: |
      Reads the data from the buffer by reinterpreting bytes at the offset as a
      32-bit unsigned integer and converting it into a number.
    parameters:
      - name: b
        type: buffer
        default:
        summary: ''
      - name: offset
        type: number
        default:
        summary: |
          Offset from the beginning of the buffer memory, starting from `0`.
    returns:
      - type: number
        summary: ''
    tags: []
    code_samples: []
    deprecation_message: ''
  - name: buffer.readf32
    summary: |
      Reads a 32-bit floating-point value from the buffer.
    description: |
      Reads the data from the buffer by reinterpreting bytes at the offset as a
      32-bit floating-point value and converting it into a number. If the
      floating-point value matches any bit patterns that represent `NaN` (not a
      number), the returned value may be converted to a different quiet `NaN`
      representation.
    parameters:
      - name: b
        type: buffer
        default:
        summary: ''
      - name: offset
        type: number
        default:
        summary: |
          Offset from the beginning of the buffer memory, starting from `0`.
    returns:
      - type: number
        summary: ''
    tags: []
    code_samples: []
    deprecation_message: ''
  - name: buffer.readf64
    summary: |
      Reads a 64-bit floating-point value from the buffer.
    description: |
      Reads the data from the buffer by reinterpreting bytes at the offset as a
      64-bit floating-point value and converting it into a number. If the
      floating-point value matches any bit patterns that represent `NaN` (not a
      number), the returned value may be converted to a different quiet `NaN`
      representation.
    parameters:
      - name: b
        type: buffer
        default:
        summary: ''
      - name: offset
        type: number
        default:
        summary: |
          Offset from the beginning of the buffer memory, starting from `0`.
    returns:
      - type: number
        summary: ''
    tags: []
    code_samples: []
    deprecation_message: ''
  - name: buffer.writebits
    summary: |
      Writes data to the buffer based on a specific `bitCount` integer from `0`
      to `32`, inclusive.
    description: |
      Writes data to the buffer based on a specific `bitCount` integer from `0`
      to `32`, inclusive. `value` is treated as an unsigned 32‑bit number and
      only `bitCount` least significant bits are written.

      Note that `0` bit width is supported only to not error in generalized
      cases where bit count is dynamic, and writing 0 bits has no effect. Also
      note that, since the max size of the buffer is 1 GB, `bitOffset`
      cannot be handled as a 32‑bit integer number like byte offset in other
      buffer functions.
    parameters:
      - name: b
        type: buffer
        default:
        summary: ''
      - name: bitOffset
        type: number
        default:
        summary: |
          Offset from the beginning of the buffer memory, starting from `0`.
      - name: bitCount
        type: number
        default:
        summary: |
          Integer bit count to write. Error is thrown if this value is not in
          range of `0` to `32`, inclusive.
      - name: value
        type: number
        default:
        summary: |
          Unsigned 32‑bit number. Only `bitCount` least significant bits are
          written.
    returns:
      - type: ()
        summary: ''
    tags: []
    code_samples: []
    deprecation_message: ''
  - name: buffer.writei8
    summary: |
      Writes an 8-bit signed integer to the buffer.
    description: |
      Writes data to the buffer by converting the number into an 8-bit signed
      integer and writing a single byte.
    parameters:
      - name: b
        type: buffer
        default:
        summary: ''
      - name: offset
        type: number
        default:
        summary: |
          Offset from the beginning of the buffer memory, starting from `0`.
      - name: value
        type: number
        default:
        summary: |
          An integer number in range [-128, 127].
    returns:
      - type: ()
        summary: ''
    tags: []
    code_samples: []
    deprecation_message: ''
  - name: buffer.writeu8
    summary: |
      Writes an 8-bit unsigned integer to the buffer.
    description: |
      Writes data to the buffer by converting the number into an 8-bit unsigned
      integer and writing a single byte.
    parameters:
      - name: b
        type: buffer
        default:
        summary: ''
      - name: offset
        type: number
        default:
        summary: |
          Offset from the beginning of the buffer memory, starting from `0`.
      - name: value
        type: number
        default:
        summary: |
          An integer number in range [0, 255].
    returns:
      - type: ()
        summary: ''
    tags: []
    code_samples: []
    deprecation_message: ''
  - name: buffer.writei16
    summary: |
      Writes a 16-bit signed integer to the buffer.
    description: |
      Writes data to the buffer by converting the number into a 16-bit signed
      integer and reinterpreting it as individual bytes.
    parameters:
      - name: b
        type: buffer
        default:
        summary: ''
      - name: offset
        type: number
        default:
        summary: |
          Offset from the beginning of the buffer memory, starting from `0`.
      - name: value
        type: number
        default:
        summary: |
          An integer number in range [-32,768, 32,767].
    returns:
      - type: ()
        summary: ''
    tags: []
    code_samples: []
    deprecation_message: ''
  - name: buffer.writeu16
    summary: |
      Writes a 16-bit unsigned integer to the buffer.
    description: |
      Writes data to the buffer by converting the number into a 16-bit unsigned
      integer and reinterpreting it as individual bytes.
    parameters:
      - name: b
        type: buffer
        default:
        summary: ''
      - name: offset
        type: number
        default:
        summary: |
          Offset from the beginning of the buffer memory, starting from `0`.
      - name: value
        type: number
        default:
        summary: |
          An integer number in range [0, 65,535].
    returns:
      - type: ()
        summary: ''
    tags: []
    code_samples: []
    deprecation_message: ''
  - name: buffer.writei32
    summary: |
      Writes a 32-bit signed integer to the buffer.
    description: |
      Writes data to the buffer by converting the number into a 32-bit signed
      integer and reinterpreting it as individual bytes.
    parameters:
      - name: b
        type: buffer
        default:
        summary: ''
      - name: offset
        type: number
        default:
        summary: |
          Offset from the beginning of the buffer memory, starting from `0`.
      - name: value
        type: number
        default:
        summary: |
          An integer number in range [-2,147,483,648, 2,147,483,647].
    returns:
      - type: ()
        summary: ''
    tags: []
    code_samples: []
    deprecation_message: ''
  - name: buffer.writeu32
    summary: |
      Writes a 32-bit unsigned integer to the buffer.
    description: |
      Writes data to the buffer by converting the number into a 32-bit unsigned
      integer and reinterpreting it as individual bytes.
    parameters:
      - name: b
        type: buffer
        default:
        summary: ''
      - name: offset
        type: number
        default:
        summary: |
          Offset from the beginning of the buffer memory, starting from `0`.
      - name: value
        type: number
        default:
        summary: |
          An integer number in range [0, 4,294,967,295].
    returns:
      - type: ()
        summary: ''
    tags: []
    code_samples: []
    deprecation_message: ''
  - name: buffer.writef32
    summary: |
      Writes a 32-bit floating-point value to the buffer.
    description: |
      Writes data to the buffer by converting the number into a 32-bit
      floating-point value and reinterpreting it as individual bytes.
    parameters:
      - name: b
        type: buffer
        default:
        summary: ''
      - name: offset
        type: number
        default:
        summary: |
          Offset from the beginning of the buffer memory, starting from `0`.
      - name: value
        type: number
        default:
        summary: |
          A single-precision floating-point number.
    returns:
      - type: ()
        summary: ''
    tags: []
    code_samples: []
    deprecation_message: ''
  - name: buffer.writef64
    summary: |
      Writes a 64-bit floating-point value to the buffer.
    description: |
      Writes data to the buffer by converting the number into a 64-bit
      floating-point value and reinterpreting it as individual bytes.
    parameters:
      - name: b
        type: buffer
        default:
        summary: ''
      - name: offset
        type: number
        default:
        summary: |
          Offset from the beginning of the buffer memory, starting from `0`.
      - name: value
        type: number
        default:
        summary: |
          A double-precision floating-point number.
    returns:
      - type: ()
        summary: ''
    tags: []
    code_samples: []
    deprecation_message: ''
  - name: buffer.readstring
    summary: |
      Reads a string from the buffer.
    description: |
      Reads a string of length `count` from the buffer at the specified
      `offset`.
    parameters:
      - name: b
        type: buffer
        default:
        summary: ''
      - name: offset
        type: number
        default:
        summary: |
          Offset from the beginning of the buffer memory, starting from `0`.
      - name: count
        type: number
        default:
        summary: |
          Length to read.
    returns:
      - type: string
        summary: ''
    tags: []
    code_samples: []
    deprecation_message: ''
  - name: buffer.writestring
    summary: |
      Writes a string to the buffer.
    description: |
      Writes data from a string into the buffer at the specified `offset`. If an
      optional `count` is specified, only `count` bytes are taken from the
      string.
    parameters:
      - name: b
        type: buffer
        default:
        summary: ''
      - name: offset
        type: number
        default:
        summary: |
          Offset from the beginning of the buffer memory, starting from `0`.
      - name: value
        type: string
        default:
        summary: |
          Data to write.
      - name: count
        type: number?
        default:
        summary: |
          Number of bytes to take from the string. This value cannot be larger
          than the string length.
    returns:
      - type: ()
        summary: ''
    tags: []
    code_samples: []
    deprecation_message: ''
  - name: buffer.copy
    summary: |
      Copies bytes between buffers.
    description: |
      Copies `count` bytes from `source` starting at offset `sourceOffset` into
      the `target` at `targetOffset`.

      It's possible for `source` and `target` to be the same. Copying an
      overlapping region inside the same buffer acts as if the source region is
      copied into a temporary buffer and then that buffer is copied over to the
      target.
    parameters:
      - name: target
        type: buffer
        default:
        summary: |
          Buffer to copy data into.
      - name: targetOffset
        type: number
        default:
        summary: |
          Offset from the beginning of the buffer memory, starting from `0`.
      - name: source
        type: buffer
        default:
        summary: |
          Buffer to take the data from.
      - name: sourceOffset
        type: number?
        default: 0
        summary: |
          Offset from the beginning of the buffer memory, starting from `0`.
      - name: count
        type: number?
        default:
        summary: |
          Number of bytes to copy. If omitted, the whole `source` data starting
          from `sourceOffset` is taken.
    returns:
      - type: ()
        summary: ''
    tags: []
    code_samples: []
    deprecation_message: ''
  - name: buffer.fill
    summary: |
      Sets a region of the buffer memory to some 8-bit unsigned integer value.
    description: |
      Sets `count` bytes in the buffer starting at the specified `offset` to
      `value`.
    parameters:
      - name: b
        type: buffer
        default:
        summary: |
          Buffer to write the data into.
      - name: offset
        type: number
        default:
        summary: |
          Offset from the beginning of the buffer memory, starting from `0`.
      - name: value
        type: number
        default:
        summary: |
          An integer number in range [0, 255].
      - name: count
        type: number?
        default:
        summary: |
          Number of bytes to write. If omitted, all bytes after the specified
          offset are set.
    returns:
      - type: ()
        summary: ''
    tags: []
    code_samples: []
    deprecation_message: ''