ArrayBuffer() constructor

The ArrayBuffer() constructor is used to create ArrayBuffer objects.

Syntax

new ArrayBuffer(length)

Parameters

length
The size, in bytes, of the array buffer to create.

Return value

A new ArrayBuffer object of the specified size. Its contents are initialized to 0.

Exceptions

A RangeError is thrown if the length is larger than Number.MAX_SAFE_INTEGER (>= 2 ** 53) or negative.

Compatibility notes

Starting with ECMAScript 2015, ArrayBuffer constructors require to be constructed with a new operator. Calling an ArrayBuffer constructor as a function without new, will throw a TypeError from now on.

var dv = ArrayBuffer(10);
// TypeError: calling a builtin ArrayBuffer constructor
// without new is forbidden
var dv = new ArrayBuffer(10);

Examples

Creating an ArrayBuffer

In this example, we create a 8-byte buffer with a Int32Array view referring to the buffer:

var buffer = new ArrayBuffer(8);
var view   = new Int32Array(buffer);

Specifications

Specification
ECMAScript (ECMA-262)
The definition of 'ArrayBuffer' in that specification.

Browser compatibility

DesktopMobileServer
ChromeEdgeFirefoxInternet ExplorerOperaSafariAndroid webviewChrome for AndroidFirefox for AndroidOpera for AndroidSafari on iOSSamsung InternetNode.js
ArrayBuffer() constructorChrome Full support 7Edge Full support 12Firefox Full support 4IE Full support 10Opera Full support 11.6Safari Full support 5.1WebView Android Full support 4Chrome Android Full support 18Firefox Android Full support 4Opera Android Full support 12Safari iOS Full support 4.2Samsung Internet Android Full support 1.0nodejs Full support 0.10
ArrayBuffer() without new throwsChrome Full support 7Edge Full support 14Firefox Full support 44IE No support NoOpera Full support 15Safari Full support 5.1WebView Android Full support ≤37Chrome Android Full support 18Firefox Android Full support 44Opera Android Full support 14Safari iOS Full support 5Samsung Internet Android Full support 1.0nodejs Full support 0.12

Legend

Full support
Full support
No support
No support

See also