Question

I want to store a 64bit (8 byte) big integer to a nodejs buffer object in big endian format.

The problem about this task is that nodejs buffer only supports writing 32bit integers as maximum (with buf.write32UInt32BE(value, offset)). So I thought, why can’t we just split the 64bit integer?

var buf = new Buffer(8);

buf.fill(0) // clear all bytes of the buffer
console.log(buf); // outputs <Buffer 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00>

var int = 0xffff; // as dezimal: 65535

buf.write32UInt32BE(0xff, 4); // right the first part of the int
console.log(buf); // outputs <Buffer 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 ff>

buf.write32UInt32BE(0xff, 0); // right the second part of the int
console.log(buf); // outputs <Buffer 00 00 00 ff 00 00 00 ff>

var bufInt = buf.read32UInt32BE(0) * buf.read32UInt32BE(4);
console.log(bufInt); // outputs 65025

As you see this nearly works. The problem is just splitting the 64bit integer and finding the missing 510 at reading it. Would somebody mind showing the solutions for these two issues?

Answer 1

I think what you are looking for is:

var bufInt = (buf.readUInt32BE(0) << 8) + buf.readUInt32BE(4);

Shift the first number by 8 bits and add (instead of multiplying), wich returns 65535

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EDIT

Another way to write would be:

var buf = new Buffer(8);
buf.fill(0);

var i = 0xCDEF; // 52719 in decimal

buf.writeUInt32BE(i >> 8, 0); //write the high order bits (shifted over)
buf.writeUInt32BE(i & 0x00ff, 4); //write the low order bits

console.log(buf); //displays: <Buffer 00 00 00 cd 00 00 00 ef>

var bufInt = (buf.readUInt32BE(0) << 8) + buf.readUInt32BE(4);
console.log(bufInt); //displays: 52719