Byte Length

Category: Utility · Node Type ID: utility-byte-length

Converts the input to bytes (string = UTF-8, int = minimal length, bool = 1 byte) and returns the byte count

Overview

Computes the byte length of the input value and outputs it as an integer (Int). If the input is already Bytes, it returns data.byteLength directly; otherwise it converts the value using toBytesAuto first (String → UTF-8 byte count, Int ≥ 0 → minimal-length byte count where 0 is 1 byte, Bool → 1 byte).

When to Use

Measuring the byte length of a plaintext, ciphertext, or header to feed into Int to Bytes (for length-prefixed framing) or Byte Slicer.
Checking key or signature byte sizes during protocol debugging.

Parameter Configuration

Byte Length requires no configuration parameters.

Port I/O Specification

See Ports & Connections for general wiring rules, data type colors, and dynamic port creation.

Input Ports

Port Nature: Fixed Input Ports (1 total).

Port Name	Port ID	Data Type	Required	Visibility Condition	Description
`Value`	`in`	`Any`	Required	Always visible

Output Ports

Port Nature: Fixed Output Ports (1 total).

Port Name	Port ID	Data Type	Visibility Condition	Description
`Length`	`length`	`Int`	Always visible	Measured byte count as an integer (`Int`).

Error Cases

When any of the following conditions occurs at runtime, this node transitions to an ERROR state and downstream nodes connected to its outputs do not execute.

Error Code	Default Engine Message	Trigger Condition
`BYTES_INVALID_ARGUMENT`	Invalid argument value	Raised when an argument (such as bit shift count, byte length, or negative integer) is invalid or negative.
`BYTES_INT_OVERFLOW`	The integer cannot be represented with the given length and sign	Raised when the integer value cannot fit within the specified fixed or port byte length.

Examples

Prepending a 2-Byte Length Header to a Payload

Measure a payload's byte count, encode it as 2 big-endian bytes, and concatenate.

Connect your payload bytes to Byte Length.
Connect the Length output to Int to Bytes (Fixed length = 2, Big Endian), and concatenate the 2-byte header with the payload in Byte Concatenator.