# Data

**Kind:** Type

**Source:** [`src/context.ts`](https://github.com/honojs/hono/blob/main/src/context.ts#L26)

Data type can be a string, ArrayBuffer, Uint8Array (buffer), or ReadableStream.

`Data` represents payload content accepted by the context layer. It can hold text as a `string`, binary content as an `ArrayBuffer` or `Uint8Array`, or streaming content as a `ReadableStream`.

## Definition

```ts
string | ArrayBuffer | ReadableStream | Uint8Array<ArrayBuffer>
```

## Diagram

```mermaid
graph LR
  Data[Data] --> Text[string]
  Data --> Buffer[ArrayBuffer]
  Data --> Bytes[Uint8Array]
  Data --> Stream[ReadableStream]
```

## Usage

```ts
import type { Data } from "./context";

function sendPayload(data: Data) {
  if (typeof data === "string") {
    return new TextEncoder().encode(data);
  }

  return data;
}

const text: Data = "Hello";
const bytes: Data = new Uint8Array([72, 105]);
const buffer: Data = bytes.buffer;

sendPayload(text);
sendPayload(bytes);
sendPayload(buffer);
```

## AI Coding Instructions

- Accept `Data` when an API supports text, binary buffers, or streamed payloads.
- Check for `string` before handling binary or stream values.
- Keep `Uint8Array` views intact when byte offsets or lengths matter.
- Handle `ReadableStream` separately from in-memory data because stream content may only be read once.

## Relationships

- IMPORTS → `HonoRequest`
- IMPORTS → `HtmlEscapedCallbackPhase`
- IMPORTS → `resolveCallback`