---
title: Stream output · Cloudflare Sandbox SDK docs
description: Handle real-time output from commands and processes.
lastUpdated: 2025-10-21T14:02:11.000Z
chatbotDeprioritize: false
source_url:
  html: https://developers.cloudflare.com/sandbox/guides/streaming-output/
  md: https://developers.cloudflare.com/sandbox/guides/streaming-output/index.md
---

This guide shows you how to handle real-time output from commands, processes, and code execution.

## When to use streaming

Use streaming when you need:

* **Real-time feedback** - Show progress as it happens
* **Long-running operations** - Builds, tests, installations that take time
* **Interactive applications** - Chat bots, code execution, live demos
* **Large output** - Process output incrementally instead of all at once
* **User experience** - Prevent users from waiting with no feedback

Use non-streaming (`exec()`) for:

* **Quick operations** - Commands that complete in seconds
* **Small output** - When output fits easily in memory
* **Post-processing** - When you need complete output before processing

## Stream command execution

Use `execStream()` to get real-time output:

* JavaScript

  ```js
  import { getSandbox, parseSSEStream } from "@cloudflare/sandbox";


  const sandbox = getSandbox(env.Sandbox, "my-sandbox");


  const stream = await sandbox.execStream("npm run build");


  for await (const event of parseSSEStream(stream)) {
    switch (event.type) {
      case "stdout":
        console.log(event.data);
        break;


      case "stderr":
        console.error(event.data);
        break;


      case "complete":
        console.log("Exit code:", event.exitCode);
        break;


      case "error":
        console.error("Failed:", event.error);
        break;
    }
  }
  ```

* TypeScript

  ```ts
  import { getSandbox, parseSSEStream, type ExecEvent } from '@cloudflare/sandbox';


  const sandbox = getSandbox(env.Sandbox, 'my-sandbox');


  const stream = await sandbox.execStream('npm run build');


  for await (const event of parseSSEStream<ExecEvent>(stream)) {
    switch (event.type) {
      case 'stdout':
        console.log(event.data);
        break;


      case 'stderr':
        console.error(event.data);
        break;


      case 'complete':
        console.log('Exit code:', event.exitCode);
        break;


      case 'error':
        console.error('Failed:', event.error);
        break;
    }
  }
  ```

## Stream to client

Return streaming output to users via Server-Sent Events:

* JavaScript

  ```js
  export default {
    async fetch(request, env) {
      const sandbox = getSandbox(env.Sandbox, "builder");


      const stream = await sandbox.execStream("npm run build");


      return new Response(stream, {
        headers: {
          "Content-Type": "text/event-stream",
          "Cache-Control": "no-cache",
        },
      });
    },
  };
  ```

* TypeScript

  ```ts
  export default {
    async fetch(request: Request, env: Env): Promise<Response> {
      const sandbox = getSandbox(env.Sandbox, 'builder');


      const stream = await sandbox.execStream('npm run build');


      return new Response(stream, {
        headers: {
          'Content-Type': 'text/event-stream',
          'Cache-Control': 'no-cache'
        }
      });
    }
  };
  ```

Client-side consumption:

* JavaScript

  ```js
  // Browser JavaScript
  const eventSource = new EventSource("/build");


  eventSource.addEventListener("stdout", (event) => {
    const data = JSON.parse(event.data);
    console.log(data.data);
  });


  eventSource.addEventListener("complete", (event) => {
    const data = JSON.parse(event.data);
    console.log("Exit code:", data.exitCode);
    eventSource.close();
  });
  ```

* TypeScript

  ```ts
  // Browser JavaScript
  const eventSource = new EventSource('/build');


  eventSource.addEventListener('stdout', (event) => {
    const data = JSON.parse(event.data);
    console.log(data.data);
  });


  eventSource.addEventListener('complete', (event) => {
    const data = JSON.parse(event.data);
    console.log('Exit code:', data.exitCode);
    eventSource.close();
  });
  ```

## Stream process logs

Monitor background process output:

* JavaScript

  ```js
  import { parseSSEStream } from "@cloudflare/sandbox";


  const process = await sandbox.startProcess("node server.js");


  const logStream = await sandbox.streamProcessLogs(process.id);


  for await (const log of parseSSEStream(logStream)) {
    console.log(log.data);


    if (log.data.includes("Server listening")) {
      console.log("Server is ready");
      break;
    }
  }
  ```

* TypeScript

  ```ts
  import { parseSSEStream, type LogEvent } from '@cloudflare/sandbox';


  const process = await sandbox.startProcess('node server.js');


  const logStream = await sandbox.streamProcessLogs(process.id);


  for await (const log of parseSSEStream<LogEvent>(logStream)) {
    console.log(log.data);


    if (log.data.includes('Server listening')) {
      console.log('Server is ready');
      break;
    }
  }
  ```

## Handle errors

Check exit codes and handle stream errors:

* JavaScript

  ```js
  const stream = await sandbox.execStream("npm run build");


  for await (const event of parseSSEStream(stream)) {
    switch (event.type) {
      case "stdout":
        console.log(event.data);
        break;


      case "error":
        throw new Error(`Build failed: ${event.error}`);


      case "complete":
        if (event.exitCode !== 0) {
          throw new Error(`Build failed with exit code ${event.exitCode}`);
        }
        break;
    }
  }
  ```

* TypeScript

  ```ts
  const stream = await sandbox.execStream('npm run build');


  for await (const event of parseSSEStream<ExecEvent>(stream)) {
    switch (event.type) {
      case 'stdout':
        console.log(event.data);
        break;


      case 'error':
        throw new Error(`Build failed: ${event.error}`);


      case 'complete':
        if (event.exitCode !== 0) {
          throw new Error(`Build failed with exit code ${event.exitCode}`);
        }
        break;
    }
  }
  ```

## Best practices

* **Always consume streams** - Don't let streams hang unconsumed
* **Handle all event types** - Process stdout, stderr, complete, and error events
* **Check exit codes** - Non-zero exit codes indicate failure
* **Provide feedback** - Show progress to users for long operations

## Related resources

* [Commands API reference](https://developers.cloudflare.com/sandbox/api/commands/) - Complete streaming API
* [Execute commands guide](https://developers.cloudflare.com/sandbox/guides/execute-commands/) - Command execution patterns
* [Background processes guide](https://developers.cloudflare.com/sandbox/guides/background-processes/) - Process log streaming
* [Code Interpreter guide](https://developers.cloudflare.com/sandbox/guides/code-execution/) - Stream code execution output
