iconv-lite

Convert character encodings in JavaScript applications.

EstablishedOpen SourceLow lock-in
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Pricing

Free tier

Flat rate

Adoption

↘Cooling

License

Open Source

Data freshness

Aging · Jun 8, 2026

Overview

What is iconv-lite?

iconv-lite is a lightweight library for converting between different character encodings. It's useful for developers working with text data that needs to be processed or displayed in various formats, ensuring compatibility across systems and platforms.

Key differentiator

“iconv-lite stands out as a lightweight and efficient JavaScript library for character encoding conversion, making it ideal for developers who need to ensure text data compatibility without the overhead of larger libraries.”

Capability profile

Capability Radar

Ease of StartEcosystemValueMaturityFlexibilityScale Ready

Honest assessment

Strengths & Weaknesses

↑ Strengths

Lightweight and efficient character encoding conversionmedium

Supports a wide range of encodings including UTF-8, ISO-8859-1, and moremedium

Easy to integrate into Node.js applications as an npm packagemedium

↓ Weaknesses

Limited support for rare character encodingshigh

iconv-lite primarily supports common encodings like UTF-8 and ISO-8859-1, but lacks comprehensive coverage of less common or specialized encodings.

Performance overhead compared to native solutionsmedium

While lightweight, iconv-lite may introduce additional processing time for large data sets when compared to native encoding conversion methods available in some environments.

Documentation is not exhaustivehigh

The documentation lacks detailed examples and explanations of advanced usage scenarios, making it challenging for new users to fully leverage the library's capabilities.

Fit analysis

Who is it for?

✓ Best for

Developers working with multi-lingual or multi-regional content who need to ensure proper encoding conversion

Projects requiring compatibility across different platforms and systems where text data needs to be processed in various formats

✕ Not a fit for

Applications that require real-time streaming of encoded text, as it is designed for batch processing

Scenarios where a full-fledged character encoding library with extensive features is required over a lightweight solution

Cost structure

Pricing

Free Tier

Available

Open source — free to use

Starts at

$0

Model

Flat rate

Enterprise

None

Performance benchmarks

How Fast Is It?

Ecosystem

Relationships

Works well with

AngularReactwebpack

Next step

Get Started with iconv-lite

Step-by-step setup guide with code examples and common gotchas.

View Setup Guide →