Sharp
Sharp is a free, open-source Node-API module for image processing in JavaScript runtimes.
What Sharp is
Sharp is a free, open-source Node-API module for image processing in JavaScript runtimes. It converts large images into smaller, web-friendly images and supports resizing, rotation, extraction, compositing, and gamma correction. It reads JPEG, PNG, WebP, GIF, AVIF, TIFF, and SVG, and outputs those image formats or raw pixel data. Developers can use streams, Buffer objects, or the filesystem for input and output, and one input stream can feed multiple processing pipelines. Sharp can generate Deep Zoom image pyramids and optimize JPEG, PNG, and animated GIF output sizes. It uses libvips and multiple CPU cores, processes small regions of uncompressed image data, and supports Promises and async/await while remaining non-blocking. The project says resizing is typically 4–5 times faster than the quickest ImageMagick and GraphicsMagick settings. Sharp requires a Node-API v9-compatible runtime, such as Node.js 20.9.0 or newer. Prebuilt binaries are available for macOS, Linux, and Windows, subject to architecture and system-library requirements. Its license is Apache License 2.0.
Good
- Reads JPEG, PNG, WebP, GIF, AVIF, TIFF, and SVG.
- Supports streams, buffers, and filesystem processing.
- Can generate Deep Zoom image pyramids.
- Supports Promises and async/await.
- Licensed under Apache License 2.0.
Watch out
- Requires a Node-API v9-compatible runtime.
- Node.js requirement is 20.9.0 or newer.
- Optional WebAssembly package does not support browsers.
- Prebuilt binaries have architecture and system-library requirements.
Who it suits
Sharp is for developers who need image conversion or processing within a compatible JavaScript runtime. It suits workflows using streams, buffers, or filesystem input and output rather than a web application.
Verdict
Sharp provides a broad set of image operations and format options for compatible JavaScript runtimes. Check the Node-API runtime requirement and platform-specific binary requirements before choosing it.
The facts
Each one read from Sharp's own pages, with the date it was checked.
Where it runs
- Browser limitation
- The optional WebAssembly package does not support use in web browsers or single-threaded environments.checked 3 Oct 2026
- Platform binaries
- Prebuilt binaries are listed for macOS, Linux, and Windows; FreeBSD is supported through WebAssembly.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Platform requirement
- The installation guide requires a Node-API v9-compatible runtime, such as Node.js >= 20.9.0.checked 4 Oct 2026
What it does
- Deep Zoom
- Sharp can generate Deep Zoom image pyramids for use with slippy map tile viewers such as OpenSeadragon.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Formats
- Sharp reads JPEG, PNG, WebP, GIF, AVIF, TIFF and SVG, and outputs JPEG, PNG, WebP, GIF, AVIF, TIFF or raw pixel data.checked 3 Oct 2026
- Image input and output
- Streams, Buffer objects and the filesystem can be used for input and output, and one input stream can feed multiple processing pipelines.checked 3 Oct 2026
- Image operations
- It supports image resizing, rotation, extraction, compositing, and gamma correction.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Image optimization
- It can use mozjpeg and pngquant features to optimize JPEG and PNG file sizes without separate imagemin processes.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Input and output
- Streams, Buffer objects, and the filesystem can be used for input and output, and a single input stream can feed multiple processing pipelines.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Input formats
- Sharp supports reading JPEG, PNG, WebP, GIF, AVIF, TIFF, and SVG images.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Installation
- The installation guide lists npm, pnpm, yarn, Bun, and Deno commands for installing Sharp.checked 4 Oct 2026
- License
- The project is licensed under Apache License 2.0.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Output formats
- Sharp can output JPEG, PNG, WebP, GIF, AVIF, and TIFF images, as well as uncompressed raw pixel data.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Performance
- The site says image resizing is typically 4x–5x faster than the quickest ImageMagick and GraphicsMagick settings, using libvips.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Processing model
- Sharp processes small regions of uncompressed image data, uses multiple CPU cores, remains non-blocking, and supports Promises and async/await.checked 3 Oct 2026
- Product
- Sharp is a high performance Node-API module for image processing, commonly used to convert large images into smaller web-friendly images.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- Sharp is a high-speed Node-API module for converting large images into smaller, web-friendly images.checked 3 Oct 2026
- Runtime requirement
- Installation requires a Node-API v9 compatible runtime, such as Node.js 20.9.0 or newer.checked 3 Oct 2026
- Runtime support
- Sharp works with JavaScript runtimes that support Node-API v9, including Node.js >= 20.9.0, Deno, and Bun.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Security
- The security page says all input is assumed untrusted and rejected if decoding produces warnings, and the prebuilt binaries’ C, C++, and Rust dependencies are continuously fuzz-tested.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Security support
- The latest version published to npm is supported with security updates, and genuine vulnerability reports can expect a response within 48 hours.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Security updates
- The latest version published to npm is supported with security updates, and vulnerability reporters can expect a response within 48 hours for a genuine issue.checked 3 Oct 2026
- Supported systems
- Prebuilt binaries are provided for macOS, Linux and Windows architectures, with stated architecture and system-library requirements.checked 3 Oct 2026
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