Int to Bytes

Category: Data Conversion & Encoding · Node Type ID: utility-int-to-bytes

Converts an unsigned integer to bytes (length: minimal, fixed, or from the Length port)

Overview

Serializes an unsigned integer (Int / bigint, ≥ 0) into a raw byte array (Uint8Array) using the selected Endian byte order (Big-Endian or Little-Endian) and Length Mode.

You can choose between three length modes: Minimal length (uses the fewest bytes needed to represent the value, with 0 encoded as 1 byte 0x00), Fixed length (uses the constant byte count configured in the Length parameter), or Value of the input port (exposes a conditional Length input port so the byte width can be computed dynamically at runtime).

When to Use

Encoding integer counters, sequence numbers, timestamps, or message lengths into fixed-width 4-byte (32-bit) or 8-byte (64-bit) big-endian/little-endian fields for protocol packets or nonces.
Converting large bigints (such as RSA or Diffie-Hellman integers) into minimal-length byte arrays.

Parameter Configuration

Parameter (ID)	Type & Default	Visibility Condition	Description & Options
Length Mode `lengthMode`	`select` Default: `min`	Always visible	Controls how the output byte length is determined: `min` (minimal byte count; `0` produces 1 byte), `port` (reads the target byte length from the conditional `Length` input port), or `fixed` (uses the `Length` parameter below). `min`: Minimal length — uses the minimum number of bytes required to hold the integer (0 is encoded as 1 byte 0x00). `port`: Value of the input port — exposes the Length input port and uses the integer received on that port as the target byte width. `fixed`: Fixed length — uses the constant byte width specified in the Length property.
Length `length`	`number` Default: `1` Supports Variable Reference (`$var`: `int`)	When `lengthMode` is `fixed`	Target byte count (integer `≥ 0`) when `Length Mode = fixed`. Only visible when `Length Mode` is `fixed`.
Endian `endian`	`select` Default: `big`	Always visible	Byte ordering of the output buffer: `big` (most significant byte first, network byte order) or `little` (least significant byte first). `big`: Big Endian — most significant byte first (e.g., 258 in 2 bytes -> 0x01 0x02). `little`: Little Endian — least significant byte first (e.g., 258 in 2 bytes -> 0x02 0x01).

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 (2 total).

Port Name	Port ID	Data Type	Required	Visibility Condition	Description
`Value`	`in`	`Int`	Required	Always visible
`Length`	`length`	`Int`	Optional	Always visible	Target output byte length (`Int ≥ 0`). Only visible and required when `Length Mode = port`.

Output Ports

Port Nature: Fixed Output Ports (1 total).

Port Name	Port ID	Data Type	Visibility Condition	Description
`Bytes`	`out`	`Bytes`	Always visible

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_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.
`BYTES_INVALID_ARGUMENT`	Invalid argument value	Raised when an argument (such as bit shift count, byte length, or negative integer) is invalid or negative.

Examples

Encoding a 64-bit Big-Endian Packet Counter

Convert an integer counter into an 8-byte big-endian buffer.

Set Length Mode to Fixed length, Length to 8, and Endian to Big Endian.
Connect an integer counter to Int; the Bytes output emits an 8-byte big-endian representation.