When to use Uint8Array, Uint16Array, Uint32Array

Question

I have an application that loads user text through a XMLHttpRequest and returns it in a binary format. I understand that the main difference between 8, 16, and 32 is the amount of bytes per element but I don't know when to use each.

For example, for my application, since the text file could contain any possible characters really, which one would be best?

I have tried different files including one that that had emojis and it seemed that in the Uint8Array the emoji took up 4 indices.

Is there any reason that for my use I shouldn't just use the Uint8Array or is there a reason I should dynamically choose when the file is read? I have read the MDN docs on each but it doesn't seem to offer much insight other than byte size.

Here is the code I currently use to load the file:

asset= new XMLHttpRequest();

asset.addEventListener('readystatechange', function load() {

    if (asset.readyState == 4 && asset.data.status == 200) {

        const arrayBuffer = asset.data.response;

        if (arrayBuffer) asset.data = new Uint8Array(arrayBuffer);

    }

}.bind(this), false);

// Error handling.

asset.responseType = 'arraybuffer';

asset.open('GET', asset.src);

asset.send();

Answer 1

It all depends on what type of data you are sending into it. 8 bit is fine for ASCII characters and the like. 16 bit is for UCS-2. 32 bit is for UTF-32, which you wouldn't necessarily use because it's more for edge cases. Windows use of this is barely existant and Unix only uses it in internal applications sometimes.