# nlcst-to-string

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[nlcst][] utility to serialize a node.

## Contents

*   [What is this?](#what-is-this)
*   [When should I use this?](#when-should-i-use-this)
*   [Install](#install)
*   [Use](#use)
*   [API](#api)
    *   [`toString(value)`](#tostringvalue)
*   [Types](#types)
*   [Compatibility](#compatibility)
*   [Contribute](#contribute)
*   [License](#license)

## What is this?

This package is a utility that takes [nlcst][] nodes and gets their plain-text
value.

## When should I use this?

This is a small utility that is useful when you’re dealing with ASTs.

## Install

This package is [ESM only][esm].
In Node.js (version 16+), install with [npm][]:

```sh
npm install nlcst-to-string
```

In Deno with [`esm.sh`][esmsh]:

```js
import {toString} from 'https://esm.sh/nlcst-to-string@4'
```

In browsers with [`esm.sh`][esmsh]:

```html
<script type="module">
  import {toString} from 'https://esm.sh/nlcst-to-string@4?bundle'
</script>
```

## Use

```js
import {toString} from 'nlcst-to-string'

console.log(
  toString({
    type: 'WordNode',
    children: [
      {type: 'TextNode', value: 'AT'},
      {type: 'SymbolNode', value: '&'},
      {type: 'TextNode', value: 'T'}
    ]
  })
) // => 'AT&T'
```

## API

This package exports the identifier [`toString`][api-to-string].
There is no default export.

### `toString(value)`

Get the text content of a node or list of nodes.

Prefers the node’s plain-text fields, otherwise serializes its children, and
if the given value is an array, serialize the nodes in it.

###### Parameters

*   `node` ([`Array<Node>`][node] or `Node`)
    — node or list of nodes to serialize

###### Returns

Result (`string`).

## Types

This package is fully typed with [TypeScript][].
It exports no additional types.

## Compatibility

Projects maintained by the unified collective are compatible with maintained
versions of Node.js.

When we cut a new major release, we drop support for unmaintained versions of
Node.
This means we try to keep the current release line, `nlcst-to-string@^4`,
compatible with Node.js 16.

## Contribute

See [`contributing.md`][contributing] in [`syntax-tree/.github`][health] for
ways to get started.
See [`support.md`][support] for ways to get help.

This project has a [code of conduct][coc].
By interacting with this repository, organization, or community you agree to
abide by its terms.

## License

[MIT][license] © [Titus Wormer][author]

<!-- Definitions -->

[build-badge]: https://github.com/syntax-tree/nlcst-to-string/workflows/main/badge.svg

[build]: https://github.com/syntax-tree/nlcst-to-string/actions

[coverage-badge]: https://img.shields.io/codecov/c/github/syntax-tree/nlcst-to-string.svg

[coverage]: https://codecov.io/github/syntax-tree/nlcst-to-string

[downloads-badge]: https://img.shields.io/npm/dm/nlcst-to-string.svg

[downloads]: https://www.npmjs.com/package/nlcst-to-string

[size-badge]: https://img.shields.io/badge/dynamic/json?label=minzipped%20size&query=$.size.compressedSize&url=https://deno.bundlejs.com/?q=nlcst-to-string

[size]: https://bundlejs.com/?q=nlcst-to-string

[sponsors-badge]: https://opencollective.com/unified/sponsors/badge.svg

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[collective]: https://opencollective.com/unified

[chat-badge]: https://img.shields.io/badge/chat-discussions-success.svg

[chat]: https://github.com/syntax-tree/unist/discussions

[npm]: https://docs.npmjs.com/cli/install

[esm]: https://gist.github.com/sindresorhus/a39789f98801d908bbc7ff3ecc99d99c

[esmsh]: https://esm.sh

[typescript]: https://www.typescriptlang.org

[license]: license

[author]: https://wooorm.com

[health]: https://github.com/syntax-tree/.github

[contributing]: https://github.com/syntax-tree/.github/blob/main/contributing.md

[support]: https://github.com/syntax-tree/.github/blob/main/support.md

[coc]: https://github.com/syntax-tree/.github/blob/main/code-of-conduct.md

[nlcst]: https://github.com/syntax-tree/nlcst

[node]: https://github.com/syntax-tree/nlcst#nodes

[api-to-string]: #tostringvalue