Frontend Frameworks

iconv-lite

Convert character encodings in JavaScript applications.

Status
Generally available
Last checked
Checked · Oct 10, 2026
License
Open source
Pricing
Free tier · from $0
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What it is

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.

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.

When it fits — and when it doesn’t

A good fit 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

Look elsewhere if

  • 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

Known weaknesses

Each one links to the public issue, changelog or docs page it came from, where we have one.

  1. 01

    Limited support for rare character encodings

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

  2. 02

    Performance overhead compared to native solutions

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

  3. 03

    Documentation is not exhaustive

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

What it does well

  • Lightweight and efficient character encoding conversion

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

  • Easy to integrate into Node.js applications as an npm package

Pricing

Free tier
YesOpen source — free to use
Paid from
$0
Model
Flat rate
Enterprise plan
No

Pricing not independently confirmed — check the vendor’s page.

Performance benchmarks

How Fast Is It?

Set up iconv-lite

Setup steps, common gotchas and what to check after 30 days.

Open the setup guide →