SharedArrayBuffer() constructor

Note that SharedArrayBuffer was disabled by default in all major browsers on 5 January, 2018 in response to Spectre. Chrome re-enabled it in v67 on platforms where its site-isolation feature is enabled to protect against Spectre-style vulnerabilities.

The SharedArrayBuffer() constructor is used to create a SharedArrayBuffer object representing a generic, fixed-length raw binary data buffer, similar to the ArrayBuffer object.

Syntax

new SharedArrayBuffer([length])

Parameters

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

Return value

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

Examples

Always use the new operator to create a SharedArrayBuffer

SharedArrayBuffer constructors are required to be constructed with a new operator. Calling a SharedArrayBuffer constructor as a function without new will throw a TypeError.

var sab = SharedArrayBuffer(1024);
// TypeError: calling a builtin SharedArrayBuffer constructor
// without new is forbidden
var sab = new SharedArrayBuffer(1024);

Specifications

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

Browser compatibility

DesktopMobileServer
ChromeEdgeFirefoxInternet ExplorerOperaSafariAndroid webviewChrome for AndroidFirefox for AndroidOpera for AndroidSafari on iOSSamsung InternetNode.js
SharedArrayBuffer() constructorChrome Full support 68
Full support 68
No support 60 — 63
Notes
Notes Chrome disabled SharedArrayBuffer on January 5, 2018 to help reduce the efficacy of speculative side-channel attacks. This was a temporary removal while mitigations were put in place.
Edge Full support 79
Full support 79
No support 16 — 17
Notes
Notes Support was removed to mitigate speculative execution side-channel attacks (Windows blog).
Firefox Full support 79
Full support 79
Full support 57
Notes Disabled
Notes Support was disabled by default to mitigate speculative execution side-channel attacks (Mozilla Security Blog).
Disabled From version 57: this feature is behind the javascript.options.shared_memory preference (needs to be set to true). To change preferences in Firefox, visit about:config.
No support 55 — 57
No support 46 — 55
Disabled
Disabled From version 46 until version 55 (exclusive): this feature is behind the javascript.options.shared_memory preference (needs to be set to true). To change preferences in Firefox, visit about:config.
IE No support NoOpera No support NoSafari No support 10.1 — 11WebView Android No support 60 — 63
Notes
No support 60 — 63
Notes
Notes Chrome disabled SharedArrayBuffer on January 5, 2018 to help reduce the efficacy of speculative side-channel attacks. This is intended as a temporary measure until other mitigations are in place.
Chrome Android No support 60 — 63
Notes
No support 60 — 63
Notes
Notes Chrome disabled SharedArrayBuffer on January 5, 2018 to help reduce the efficacy of speculative side-channel attacks. This is intended as a temporary measure until other mitigations are in place.
Firefox Android Full support 57
Notes Disabled
Full support 57
Notes Disabled
Notes Support was disabled by default to mitigate speculative execution side-channel attacks (Mozilla Security Blog).
Disabled From version 57: this feature is behind the javascript.options.shared_memory preference (needs to be set to true). To change preferences in Firefox, visit about:config.
No support 55 — 57
No support 46 — 55
Disabled
Disabled From version 46 until version 55 (exclusive): this feature is behind the javascript.options.shared_memory preference (needs to be set to true). To change preferences in Firefox, visit about:config.
Opera Android No support NoSafari iOS No support 10.3 — 11Samsung Internet Android No support No
Notes
No support No
Notes
Notes Chrome disabled SharedArrayBuffer on January 5, 2018 to help reduce the efficacy of speculative side-channel attacks. This is intended as a temporary measure until other mitigations are in place.
nodejs Full support 8.10.0

Legend

Full support
Full support
No support
No support
See implementation notes.
See implementation notes.
User must explicitly enable this feature.
User must explicitly enable this feature.

See also