# Node-red-contrib-buffer-parser - the output keep being an array

**URL:** https://discourse.nodered.org/t/node-red-contrib-buffer-parser-the-output-keep-being-an-array/100129
**Category:** General
**Created:** [9 January 2026 13:41 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/node-red-contrib-buffer-parser-the-output-keep-being-an-array/100129 "2026-01-09T13:41:36Z")
**Posts on this page:** 6
**Page:** 1

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### Author: ![michaell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8e8cbc/32.png) [@michaell](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/michaell)
#### Post date: [9 January 2026 13:41 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/node-red-contrib-buffer-parser-the-output-keep-being-an-array/100129/1 "2026-01-09T13:41:36Z")

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hello

I need to combine the 2 first bytes of the array to create an integer. My output keep being a array. Are you able to see what did I do wrong?

 ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/uploads/nodered/original/3X/6/1/61e2f006f03bceb3c5ce8fc10b194fffe5338d68.png)

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### Author: ![Colin](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/colin/32/17040_2.png) [@Colin](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Colin)
#### Post date: [9 January 2026 13:59 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/node-red-contrib-buffer-parser-the-output-keep-being-an-array/100129/2 "2026-01-09T13:59:53Z")

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You have asked for 2 off int8, which is what it is giving you. Try int16.

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### Author: ![Steve-Mcl](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/steve-mcl/32/4826_2.png) [@Steve-Mcl](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Steve-Mcl)
#### Post date: [9 January 2026 14:01 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/node-red-contrib-buffer-parser-the-output-keep-being-an-array/100129/3 "2026-01-09T14:01:17Z")

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Read the built in help (RH sidebar). It explains if you ask for a length of 2 you'll get 2 items. It is the data type (i.e. int16be) that specifies how many bytes to read from the input.

I.e. if you want 1, then set length to 1

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### Author: ![michaell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8e8cbc/32.png) [@michaell](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/michaell)
#### Post date: [9 January 2026 14:56 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/node-red-contrib-buffer-parser-the-output-keep-being-an-array/100129/4 "2026-01-09T14:56:06Z")

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We can close this topic, by reading the manual more concentrated I understood the way it works and found the reason of the 2 items (lenght needs to be at 1). Unfortunately, I won't be able to use this palette because my array is structured with Bytes and not with Integers

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### Author: ![Steve-Mcl](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/steve-mcl/32/4826_2.png) [@Steve-Mcl](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Steve-Mcl)
#### Post date: [9 January 2026 15:36 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/node-red-contrib-buffer-parser-the-output-keep-being-an-array/100129/6 "2026-01-09T15:36:26Z")

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> [@michaell](#):
>
> Unfortunately, I won't be able to use this palette because my array is structured with Bytes and not with Integers

Show us.

The buffer parser accepts array of integer or a buffer input.

If your input is an actual array (not a buffer) of bytes it is simple to convert.

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### Author: ![system](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/uploads/nodered/original/1X/d073cd938eafa2e558d7c2cd59003b3ef4963033.png) [@system](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/system)
#### Post date: [9 April 2026 15:36 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/node-red-contrib-buffer-parser-the-output-keep-being-an-array/100129/7 "2026-04-09T15:36:57Z")

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