Practical overview
When it fits
Use it when an application needs focused Bech32 or Bech32m encoding, decoding, or byte-to-word conversion.
Who it is for
Developers building Bitcoin wallets or applications that need to handle Bech32 or Bech32m data.
Documented uses
- Decode a Bech32 or Bech32m string to obtain its prefix and words.
- Convert byte data into words and encode it with a selected prefix.
- Handle both Bech32 and Bech32m formats in an application.
Requirements & limits
- The README demonstrates separate Bech32 and Bech32m interfaces for encoding and decoding.
- The README warns that increasing the BIP173 90-character limit reduces checksum effectiveness and recommends not exceeding 1,023 characters.
Check current requirements in the official documentation. Source-based guidance does not mean OpenViST has run or independently tested this project.
Decode a Bech32 or Bech32m string
Retrieve the prefix and word data from a Bech32 or Bech32m string using the corresponding library object.
Before you start
- The bech32 library is available to the JavaScript code.
- A Bech32 or Bech32m string to decode.
Steps
Import
bech32andbech32mfrom thebech32package.Call
bech32.decode(string)for a Bech32 value, orbech32m.decode(string)for a Bech32m value.Use the returned
prefixandwordsfields.
Expected outcome
The decode call returns an object containing the string's prefix and word array, as shown in the project examples.
Guide limitations
- The examples do not document error handling or validation behavior for invalid inputs.
Convert bytes to words and encode them as Bech32 or Bech32m
Convert byte data to the library's word representation and encode it with a chosen prefix.
Before you start
- The bech32 library is available to the JavaScript code.
- Byte data to encode.
Steps
Import
bech32andbech32mfrom thebech32package.Convert the byte data with
bech32.toWords(bytes); the README demonstrates this with a UTF-8Buffer.Encode the resulting words with
bech32.encode(prefix, words)orbech32m.encode(prefix, words), according to the desired format.
Expected outcome
The selected encoding method returns an encoded string; the project example demonstrates both formats with prefix `foo`.
Guide limitations
- BIP173 imposes a 90-character limit. If extending the
LIMITparameter, checksum effectiveness decreases as length increases. - The project strongly recommends not exceeding 1023 characters, where the module can guarantee detecting only one error.
Sources & review
Source record details
- Source availability
- Active
- Sources checked
- 14 October 2026
- Original website title
- bitcoinjs/bech32 · Official homepage title · retained in its source language