Version 1.1.1

.pre-commit-config.yaml

@@ -11,16 +11,22 @@ repos:
   hooks:
     - id: shellcheck
 
-- repo: https://github.com/pre-commit/mirrors-eslint
-  rev: v10.0.3
+- repo: local
+  hooks:
+    - id: prettier
+      name: prettier
+      entry: npx prettier --write
+      language: system
+      files: "\\.(js|jsx|ts|tsx)$"
+
+- repo: local
   hooks:
     - id: eslint
+      name: eslint
+      entry: npx eslint --fix
+      language: system
       files: "\\.(js|jsx|ts|tsx)$"
-      exclude: node_modules/
 
-# Use stylelint (local) instead of the deprecated scss-lint Ruby gem which
-# cannot parse modern Sass `@use` and module syntax. This invokes the
-# project's installed `stylelint` via `npx` so the devDependency is used.
 - repo: local
   hooks:
     - id: stylelint

.prettierrc.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+import { type Config } from "prettier";
+
+const config: Config = {
+  trailingComma: "none",
+  printWidth: 120
+};
+
+export default config;

eslint.config.js

@@ -1,26 +0,0 @@
-import js from '@eslint/js'
-import globals from 'globals'
-import tseslint from 'typescript-eslint'
-import { defineConfig, globalIgnores } from 'eslint/config'
-
-export default defineConfig([
-  globalIgnores(['dist']),
-  {
-    files: ['**/*.{ts,tsx}'],
-    extends: [
-      js.configs.recommended,
-      tseslint.configs.recommended,
-    ],
-    languageOptions: {
-      ecmaVersion: 2020,
-      globals: globals.browser,
-    },
-    rules: {
-      "@typescript-eslint/ban-ts-comment": [
-        "error", {
-          "ts-ignore": "allow-with-description"
-        }
-      ],
-    }
-  },
-])

eslint.config.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+import js from "@eslint/js";
+import globals from "globals";
+import tseslint from "typescript-eslint";
+import { defineConfig, globalIgnores } from "eslint/config";
+
+export default defineConfig([
+  globalIgnores(["dist"]),
+  {
+    files: ["**/*.{ts,tsx}"],
+    extends: [js.configs.recommended, tseslint.configs.recommended],
+    languageOptions: {
+      ecmaVersion: 2020,
+      globals: globals.browser
+    },
+    rules: {
+      "@typescript-eslint/ban-ts-comment": [
+        "error",
+        {
+          "ts-ignore": "allow-with-description"
+        }
+      ]
+    }
+  }
+]);

package.json

@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 {
   "name": "@hamradio/packet",
   "type": "module",
-  "version": "1.0.2",
+  "version": "1.1.1",
   "description": "Low level packet parsing library (for radio protocols)",
   "keywords": [
     "HAM radio",
@@ -13,12 +13,12 @@
   ],
   "repository": {
     "type": "git",
-    "url": "https://git.maze.io/ham/packet.js"
+    "url": "https://git.maze.io/ham/packet.ts"
   },
   "license": "MIT",
   "author": "Wijnand Modderman-Lenstra",
   "main": "dist/index.js",
-  "module": "dist/index.mjs",
+  "module": "dist/index.js",
   "types": "dist/index.d.ts",
   "files": [
     "dist"
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@
   "exports": {
     ".": {
       "types": "./dist/index.d.ts",
-      "import": "./dist/index.mjs",
+      "import": "./dist/index.js",
       "require": "./dist/index.js"
     }
   },
@@ -40,12 +40,13 @@
     "lint": "eslint .",
     "prepare": "npm run build"
   },
-  "dependencies": {},
   "devDependencies": {
     "@eslint/js": "^10.0.1",
     "@vitest/coverage-v8": "^4.0.18",
     "eslint": "^10.0.3",
     "globals": "^17.4.0",
+    "jiti": "^2.6.1",
+    "prettier": "3.8.1",
     "tsup": "^8.5.1",
     "typescript": "^5.9.3",
     "typescript-eslint": "^8.57.0",

src/index.test.ts

@@ -1,28 +1,30 @@
-import { describe, it, expect } from 'vitest';
-import { Reader, Writer } from '.';
+import { describe, it, expect } from "vitest";
+import { Reader, Writer } from ".";
 
-describe('Reader/Writer round-trip', () => {
-  it('writes then reads a variety of types correctly', () => {
+describe("Reader/Writer round-trip", () => {
+  it("writes then reads a variety of types correctly", () => {
     const writer = new Writer(1024);
 
     // values to write
     const bBool = true;
+    const bChar = "A";
     const bInt8 = -42;
     const bUint8 = 200;
-    const bUint16 = 0xBEEF;
-    const bUint32 = 0xDEADBEEF >>> 0;
+    const bUint16 = 0xbeef;
+    const bUint32 = 0xdeadbeef >>> 0;
     const bUint64 = 0x1122334455667788n;
     const bFloat32 = 3.1415927;
     const bFloat64 = 1.23456789e5;
-    const bCString = 'hello';
-    const bUtf8 = 'π≈3.14';
-    const words = [0x1234, 0x5678, 0x9ABC];
+    const bCString = "hello";
+    const bUtf8 = "π≈3.14";
+    const words = [0x1234, 0x5678, 0x9abc];
     const dwords = [0x11223344 >>> 0, 0x55667788 >>> 0];
-    const qwords = [0x8000000000000000n, 0xAABBCCDDEEFF0011n];
+    const qwords = [0x8000000000000000n, 0xaabbccddeeff0011n];
     const rawBytes = new Uint8Array([1, 2, 3, 4]);
 
     // write sequence
     writer.bool(bBool);
+    writer.char(bChar);
     writer.int8(bInt8);
     writer.uint8(bUint8);
     writer.uint16(bUint16);
@@ -45,6 +47,7 @@ describe('Reader/Writer round-trip', () => {
 
     // read back in same order
     expect(reader.bool()).toBe(bBool);
+    expect(reader.char()).toBe(bChar);
     expect(reader.int8()).toBe(bInt8);
     expect(reader.uint8()).toBe(bUint8);
     expect(reader.uint16()).toBe(bUint16);

src/index.ts

@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ export class Reader {
       const srcBuffer = buffer.buffer.slice(buffer.byteOffset, buffer.byteOffset + buffer.byteLength);
       this.buffer = srcBuffer instanceof ArrayBuffer ? srcBuffer : new ArrayBuffer(srcBuffer.byteLength);
     } else {
-      throw new TypeError('Invalid buffer type. Expected ArrayBuffer, Uint8Array, or ArrayBufferView.');
+      throw new TypeError("Invalid buffer type. Expected ArrayBuffer, Uint8Array, or ArrayBufferView.");
     }
     this.view = new DataView(this.buffer);
     this.offset = 0;
@@ -35,6 +35,17 @@ export class Reader {
     return value !== 0;
   }
 
+  /**
+   * Read an 8-bit character from the buffer at the current offset, and advance the offset by 1 byte.
+   * @returns A string containing the character read from the buffer.
+   */
+  public char(): string {
+    this.checkBounds(1);
+    const value = this.view.getUint8(this.offset);
+    this.offset += 1;
+    return String.fromCharCode(value);
+  }
+
   /**
    * Read an 8-bit signed integer from the buffer at the current offset, and advance the offset by 1 byte.
    *
@@ -179,7 +190,7 @@ export class Reader {
     while (true) {
       this.checkBounds(1);
       const byte = this.view.getUint8(this.offset++);
-      result |= (byte & 0x7F) << shift;
+      result |= (byte & 0x7f) << shift;
       if ((byte & 0x80) === 0) {
         break; // Last byte of the varint
       }
@@ -205,7 +216,7 @@ export class Reader {
     while (true) {
       this.checkBounds(1);
       const byte = this.view.getUint8(this.offset++);
-      result |= (byte & 0x7F) << shift;
+      result |= (byte & 0x7f) << shift;
       if ((byte & 0x80) === 0) {
         break; // Last byte of the varint
       }
@@ -342,32 +353,36 @@ export class Reader {
     return new Reader(bytes, littleEndian);
   }
 
-  public static fromString(str: string, encoding: 'utf8' | 'ascii' | 'hex' | 'base64' | 'rawbase64' | 'urlbase64' | 'rawurlbase64' = 'utf8', littleEndian: boolean = true): Reader {
+  public static fromString(
+    str: string,
+    encoding: "utf8" | "ascii" | "hex" | "base64" | "rawbase64" | "urlbase64" | "rawurlbase64" = "utf8",
+    littleEndian: boolean = true
+  ): Reader {
     let bytes: Uint8Array;
     switch (encoding) {
-      case 'utf8':
+      case "utf8":
         bytes = new TextEncoder().encode(str);
         break;
-      case 'ascii':
-        bytes = new Uint8Array(str.split('').map(c => c.charCodeAt(0)));
+      case "ascii":
+        bytes = new Uint8Array(str.split("").map((c) => c.charCodeAt(0)));
         break;
-      case 'hex':
+      case "hex":
         bytes = new Uint8Array(str.length / 2);
         for (let i = 0; i < bytes.length; i++) {
           bytes[i] = parseInt(str.substr(i * 2, 2), 16);
         }
         break;
-      case 'base64':
-        bytes = Uint8Array.from(atob(str), c => c.charCodeAt(0));
+      case "base64":
+        bytes = Uint8Array.from(atob(str), (c) => c.charCodeAt(0));
         break;
-      case 'rawbase64':
-        bytes = Uint8Array.from(atob(str.replace(/-/g, '+').replace(/_/g, '/')), c => c.charCodeAt(0));
+      case "rawbase64":
+        bytes = Uint8Array.from(atob(str.replace(/-/g, "+").replace(/_/g, "/")), (c) => c.charCodeAt(0));
         break;
-      case 'urlbase64':
-        bytes = Uint8Array.from(atob(str.replace(/-/g, '+').replace(/_/g, '/')), c => c.charCodeAt(0));
+      case "urlbase64":
+        bytes = Uint8Array.from(atob(str.replace(/-/g, "+").replace(/_/g, "/")), (c) => c.charCodeAt(0));
         break;
-      case 'rawurlbase64':
-        bytes = Uint8Array.from(atob(str.replace(/-/g, '+').replace(/_/g, '/')), c => c.charCodeAt(0));
+      case "rawurlbase64":
+        bytes = Uint8Array.from(atob(str.replace(/-/g, "+").replace(/_/g, "/")), (c) => c.charCodeAt(0));
         break;
     }
     return new Reader(bytes.slice().buffer, littleEndian);
@@ -387,7 +402,9 @@ export class Reader {
 
   private checkBounds(length: number) {
     if (this.offset + length > this.view.byteLength) {
-      throw new RangeError(`Attempt to read beyond end of buffer: offset=${this.offset}, length=${length}, bufferLength=${this.view.byteLength}`);
+      throw new RangeError(
+        `Attempt to read beyond end of buffer: offset=${this.offset}, length=${length}, bufferLength=${this.view.byteLength}`
+      );
     }
   }
 }
@@ -428,6 +445,27 @@ export class Writer {
     this.offset += 1;
   }
 
+  /**
+   * Write an 8-bit character to the buffer at the current offset, and advance the offset by 1 byte.
+   *
+   * @param value The character or its ASCII code to write.
+   */
+  public char(value: string | number): void {
+    if (typeof value === "string") {
+      if (value.length !== 1) {
+        throw new Error("Input must be a single character");
+      }
+      this.checkBounds(1);
+      this.view.setUint8(this.offset, value.charCodeAt(0));
+    } else if (typeof value === "number") {
+      this.checkBounds(1);
+      this.view.setUint8(this.offset, value);
+    } else {
+      throw new Error("Input must be a string or number");
+    }
+    this.offset += 1;
+  }
+
   /**
    * Write an 8-bit signed integer to the buffer at the current offset, and advance the offset by
    * 1 byte.
@@ -472,7 +510,7 @@ export class Writer {
    */
   public int64(value: number | bigint): void {
     this.checkBounds(8);
-    if (typeof value === 'number') {
+    if (typeof value === "number") {
       value = BigInt(value);
     }
     this.view.setBigInt64(this.offset, value, this.littleEndian);
@@ -523,7 +561,7 @@ export class Writer {
    */
   public uint64(value: number | bigint): void {
     this.checkBounds(8);
-    if (typeof value === 'number') {
+    if (typeof value === "number") {
       value = BigInt(value);
     }
     this.view.setBigUint64(this.offset, value, this.littleEndian);
@@ -570,7 +608,7 @@ export class Writer {
     // Useful for pre-sizing buffers.
     let remaining = value >>> 0; // Ensure unsigned
     while (remaining >= 0x80) {
-      this.view.setUint8(this.offset++, (remaining & 0x7F) | 0x80);
+      this.view.setUint8(this.offset++, (remaining & 0x7f) | 0x80);
       remaining >>>= 7;
     }
     this.view.setUint8(this.offset++, remaining);
@@ -591,7 +629,7 @@ export class Writer {
     let remaining = value >>> 0; // Ensure unsigned
     const isNegative = value < 0;
     while (remaining >= 0x80 || (isNegative && remaining < 0x80)) {
-      this.view.setUint8(this.offset++, (remaining & 0x7F) | 0x80);
+      this.view.setUint8(this.offset++, (remaining & 0x7f) | 0x80);
       remaining >>>= 7;
     }
     this.view.setUint8(this.offset++, remaining);
@@ -701,46 +739,60 @@ export class Writer {
    * @param encoding The encoding to use for the string conversion.
    * @returns The encoded string.
    */
-  public toString(encoding: 'utf-8' | 'hex' | 'base64' | 'rawbase64' | 'urlbase64' | 'rawurlbase64' = 'utf-8'): string {
+  public toString(encoding: "utf-8" | "hex" | "base64" | "rawbase64" | "urlbase64" | "rawurlbase64" = "utf-8"): string {
     const bytes = this.toBytes();
     switch (encoding) {
-      case 'utf-8':
+      case "utf-8":
         return new TextDecoder().decode(bytes);
-      case 'hex':
-        return Array.from(bytes).map(b => b.toString(16).padStart(2, '0')).join('');
-      case 'base64':
+      case "hex":
+        return Array.from(bytes)
+          .map((b) => b.toString(16).padStart(2, "0"))
+          .join("");
+      case "base64":
         return btoa(String.fromCharCode(...bytes));
-      case 'rawbase64':
-        return btoa(String.fromCharCode(...bytes)).replace(/\+/g, '-').replace(/\//g, '_').replace(/=+$/, '');
-      case 'urlbase64':
-        return btoa(String.fromCharCode(...bytes)).replace(/\+/g, '-').replace(/\//g, '_');
-      case 'rawurlbase64':
-        return btoa(String.fromCharCode(...bytes)).replace(/\+/g, '-').replace(/\//g, '_').replace(/=+$/, '');
+      case "rawbase64":
+        return btoa(String.fromCharCode(...bytes))
+          .replace(/\+/g, "-")
+          .replace(/\//g, "_")
+          .replace(/=+$/, "");
+      case "urlbase64":
+        return btoa(String.fromCharCode(...bytes))
+          .replace(/\+/g, "-")
+          .replace(/\//g, "_");
+      case "rawurlbase64":
+        return btoa(String.fromCharCode(...bytes))
+          .replace(/\+/g, "-")
+          .replace(/\//g, "_")
+          .replace(/=+$/, "");
       default:
         throw new Error(`Unsupported encoding: ${encoding}`);
     }
   }
 
-  public static fromString(value: string, encoding: 'utf-8' | 'hex' | 'base64' | 'rawbase64' | 'urlbase64' | 'rawurlbase64' = 'utf-8', littleEndian: boolean = true): Writer {
+  public static fromString(
+    value: string,
+    encoding: "utf-8" | "hex" | "base64" | "rawbase64" | "urlbase64" | "rawurlbase64" = "utf-8",
+    littleEndian: boolean = true
+  ): Writer {
     let bytes: Uint8Array;
     switch (encoding) {
-      case 'utf-8':
+      case "utf-8":
         bytes = new TextEncoder().encode(value);
         break;
-      case 'hex':
-        bytes = new Uint8Array(value.match(/.{1,2}/g)!.map(byte => parseInt(byte, 16)));
+      case "hex":
+        bytes = new Uint8Array(value.match(/.{1,2}/g)!.map((byte) => parseInt(byte, 16)));
         break;
-      case 'base64':
-        bytes = Uint8Array.from(atob(value), c => c.charCodeAt(0));
+      case "base64":
+        bytes = Uint8Array.from(atob(value), (c) => c.charCodeAt(0));
         break;
-      case 'rawbase64':
-        bytes = Uint8Array.from(atob(value.replace(/-/g, '+').replace(/_/g, '/')), c => c.charCodeAt(0));
+      case "rawbase64":
+        bytes = Uint8Array.from(atob(value.replace(/-/g, "+").replace(/_/g, "/")), (c) => c.charCodeAt(0));
         break;
-      case 'urlbase64':
-        bytes = Uint8Array.from(atob(value.replace(/-/g, '+').replace(/_/g, '/')), c => c.charCodeAt(0));
+      case "urlbase64":
+        bytes = Uint8Array.from(atob(value.replace(/-/g, "+").replace(/_/g, "/")), (c) => c.charCodeAt(0));
         break;
-      case 'rawurlbase64':
-        bytes = Uint8Array.from(atob(value.replace(/-/g, '+').replace(/_/g, '/')), c => c.charCodeAt(0));
+      case "rawurlbase64":
+        bytes = Uint8Array.from(atob(value.replace(/-/g, "+").replace(/_/g, "/")), (c) => c.charCodeAt(0));
         break;
       default:
         throw new Error(`Unsupported encoding: ${encoding}`);
@@ -764,32 +816,48 @@ export class Writer {
 
   private checkBounds(length: number) {
     if (this.offset + length > this.view.byteLength) {
-      throw new RangeError(`Attempt to write beyond end of buffer: offset=${this.offset}, length=${length}, bufferLength=${this.view.byteLength}`);
+      throw new RangeError(
+        `Attempt to write beyond end of buffer: offset=${this.offset}, length=${length}, bufferLength=${this.view.byteLength}`
+      );
     }
   }
 }
 
-export { FieldType } from './types';
+// Exporting types and utilities for external use:
+export * from "./types";
+export {
+  FieldType,
+  type Packet,
+  type Protocol,
+  type Dissected,
+  type Segment,
+  type Field,
+  type BitField
+} from "./types";
 export {
-  isBytes,
-  assertBytes,
-  bytesToHex,
-  hexToBytes,
-  bytesToBase64,
-  base64ToBytes,
-  U8,
-  U16,
-  U32,
   I8,
   I16,
   I32,
+  U8,
+  U16,
+  U32,
   F32,
   F64,
+  isBytes,
+  assertBytes,
+  equalBytes,
+  constantTimeEqualBytes,
+  base64ToBytes,
+  bytesToBase64,
+  hexToBytes,
+  bytesToHex,
+  decodeBytes,
+  encodeBytes,
   type TypedArray,
-  type Encoding,
   type HexEncoding,
   type Base64Encoding,
   type Base64RawEncoding,
   type Base64URLEncoding,
   type Base64RawURLEncoding,
-} from './utils';
+  type Encoding
+} from "./utils";

src/types.ts

@@ -1,9 +1,7 @@
-
 /**
  * Type definitions for the packet parsing library.
  */
 
-
 /**
  * Enumeration of supported field types for dissecting packets.
  *
@@ -13,51 +11,52 @@
  */
 export const FieldType = {
   // Boolean types
-  BOOL:       'BOOL',         // Boolean value (stored as a byte, 0 for false, non-zero for true)
+  BOOL: "BOOL", // Boolean value (stored as a byte, 0 for false, non-zero for true)
 
   // Number types
-  BITS:       'BITS',         // 1-bit values stored in a number (1 bit per value, packed into bytes)
-  INT8:       'INT8',         // 8-bit signed integer (1 byte)
-  INT16_LE:   'INT16_LE',     // 16-bit signed integer (little-endian)
-  INT16_BE:   'INT16_BE',     // 16-bit signed integer (big-endian)
-  INT32_LE:   'INT32_LE',     // 32-bit signed integer (little-endian)
-  INT32_BE:   'INT32_BE',     // 32-bit signed integer (big-endian)
-  INT64_LE:   'INT64_LE',     // 64-bit signed integer (little-endian)
-  INT64_BE:   'INT64_BE',     // 64-bit signed integer (big-endian)
-  UINT8:      'UINT8',        // 8-bit unsigned integer
-  UINT16_LE:  'UINT16_LE',    // 16-bit unsigned integer (little-endian)
-  UINT16_BE:  'UINT16_BE',    // 16-bit unsigned integer (big-endian)
-  UINT32_LE:  'UINT32_LE',    // 32-bit unsigned integer (little-endian)
-  UINT32_BE:  'UINT32_BE',    // 32-bit unsigned integer (big-endian)
-  UINT64_LE:  'UINT64_LE',    // 64-bit unsigned integer (little-endian)
-  UINT64_BE:  'UINT64_BE',    // 64-bit unsigned integer (big-endian)
-  FLOAT32_LE: 'FLOAT32_LE',   // 32-bit IEEE floating point (little-endian)
-  FLOAT32_BE: 'FLOAT32_BE',   // 32-bit IEEE floating point (big-endian)
-  FLOAT64_LE: 'FLOAT64_LE',   // 64-bit IEEE floating point (little-endian)
-  FLOAT64_BE: 'FLOAT64_BE',   // 64-bit IEEE floating point (big-endian)
-  VARINT:     'VARINT',       // Variable-length integer (unsigned, LEB128 encoding)
-  VARSINT:    'VARSINT',      // Variable-length integer (signed, LEB128 encoding)
+  BITS: "BITS", // 1-bit values stored in a number (1 bit per value, packed into bytes)
+  CHAR: "CHAR", // 8-bit character (1 byte)
+  INT8: "INT8", // 8-bit signed integer (1 byte)
+  INT16_LE: "INT16_LE", // 16-bit signed integer (little-endian)
+  INT16_BE: "INT16_BE", // 16-bit signed integer (big-endian)
+  INT32_LE: "INT32_LE", // 32-bit signed integer (little-endian)
+  INT32_BE: "INT32_BE", // 32-bit signed integer (big-endian)
+  INT64_LE: "INT64_LE", // 64-bit signed integer (little-endian)
+  INT64_BE: "INT64_BE", // 64-bit signed integer (big-endian)
+  UINT8: "UINT8", // 8-bit unsigned integer
+  UINT16_LE: "UINT16_LE", // 16-bit unsigned integer (little-endian)
+  UINT16_BE: "UINT16_BE", // 16-bit unsigned integer (big-endian)
+  UINT32_LE: "UINT32_LE", // 32-bit unsigned integer (little-endian)
+  UINT32_BE: "UINT32_BE", // 32-bit unsigned integer (big-endian)
+  UINT64_LE: "UINT64_LE", // 64-bit unsigned integer (little-endian)
+  UINT64_BE: "UINT64_BE", // 64-bit unsigned integer (big-endian)
+  FLOAT32_LE: "FLOAT32_LE", // 32-bit IEEE floating point (little-endian)
+  FLOAT32_BE: "FLOAT32_BE", // 32-bit IEEE floating point (big-endian)
+  FLOAT64_LE: "FLOAT64_LE", // 64-bit IEEE floating point (little-endian)
+  FLOAT64_BE: "FLOAT64_BE", // 64-bit IEEE floating point (big-endian)
+  VARINT: "VARINT", // Variable-length integer (unsigned, LEB128 encoding)
+  VARSINT: "VARSINT", // Variable-length integer (signed, LEB128 encoding)
 
   // Date/time types (stored as integer timestamps)
-  DATE32_LE:  'DATE32_LE',    // 32-bit integer date (e.g., seconds since epoch) little-endian
-  DATE32_BE:  'DATE32_BE',    // 32-bit integer date big-endian
-  DATE64_LE:  'DATE64_LE',    // 64-bit integer date (e.g., ms since epoch) little-endian
-  DATE64_BE:  'DATE64_BE',    // 64-bit integer date big-endian
+  DATE32_LE: "DATE32_LE", // 32-bit integer date (e.g., seconds since epoch) little-endian
+  DATE32_BE: "DATE32_BE", // 32-bit integer date big-endian
+  DATE64_LE: "DATE64_LE", // 64-bit integer date (e.g., ms since epoch) little-endian
+  DATE64_BE: "DATE64_BE", // 64-bit integer date big-endian
 
   // Array buffer types
-  BYTES:       'BYTES',       // 8-bits per value array (Uint8Array)
-  C_STRING:    'C_STRING',    // Null-terminated string (C-style) (Uint8Array)
-  UTF8_STRING: 'UTF8_STRING', // UTF-8 encoded string (Uint8Array)
-  WORDS:       'WORDS',       // 16-bits per value array (Uint16Array)
-  DWORDS:      'DWORDS',      // 32-bits per value array (Uint32Array)
-  QWORDS:      'QWORDS',      // 64-bits per value array (BigUint64Array)
+  BYTES: "BYTES", // 8-bits per value array (Uint8Array)
+  C_STRING: "C_STRING", // Null-terminated string (C-style) (Uint8Array)
+  UTF8_STRING: "UTF8_STRING", // UTF-8 encoded string (Uint8Array)
+  WORDS: "WORDS", // 16-bits per value array (Uint16Array)
+  DWORDS: "DWORDS", // 32-bits per value array (Uint32Array)
+  QWORDS: "QWORDS", // 64-bits per value array (BigUint64Array)
 
   // Aliases
-  FLAG:        'BOOL',        // alternate name for boolean/flag fields
-  STRING:      'UTF8_STRING', // alias for UTF8 encoded strings
+  FLAG: "BOOL", // alternate name for boolean/flag fields
+  STRING: "UTF8_STRING" // alias for UTF8 encoded strings
 } as const;
 
-export type FieldType = typeof FieldType[keyof typeof FieldType];
+export type FieldType = (typeof FieldType)[keyof typeof FieldType];
 
 /**
  * Interface for a packet, which can be dissected into segments and fields. This is a placeholder
@@ -110,6 +109,7 @@ export type Dissected = Segment[];
 export interface Segment {
   name: string;
   data?: ArrayBuffer; // Optional raw data for the segment (if needed for parsing / serialization)
+  isString?: boolean; // Optional flag indicating if the segment represents a string (for special handling)
   fields: Field[];
 }
 
@@ -120,6 +120,7 @@ export interface Segment {
 export interface Field {
   type: FieldType;
   name: string;
+  data?: ArrayBuffer; // Optional raw data for the field (if needed for parsing / serialization)
   value?: unknown; // Optional value for the field (used for serialization or as a default value)
   bits?: BitField[]; // Optional array of bit field definitions (for BITS type)
   length?: number; // Optional length for array types (e.g., BYTES, WORDS)