fix(encoding): flush codec after each chunk for streaming responses Without an explicit flush, gzip/deflate/zstd buffers all chunks and releases them only at stream EOF, causing middleware::Compress to delay all output until the response stream ends. Fixes #3410

actix-http/src/encoding/encoder.rs

@@ -208,6 +208,7 @@ where
                     if let Some(mut encoder) = this.encoder.take() {
                         if chunk.len() < MAX_CHUNK_SIZE_ENCODE_IN_PLACE {
                             encoder.write(&chunk).map_err(EncoderError::Io)?;
+                            encoder.flush().map_err(EncoderError::Io)?;
                             let chunk = encoder.take();
                             *this.encoder = Some(encoder);
 
@@ -217,6 +218,7 @@ where
                         } else {
                             *this.fut = Some(spawn_blocking(move || {
                                 encoder.write(&chunk)?;
+                                encoder.flush()?;
                                 Ok(encoder)
                             }));
                         }
@@ -360,6 +362,26 @@ impl ContentEncoder {
         }
     }
 
+    /// Flush internal codec buffers so compressed bytes are available via [`take`](Self::take).
+    ///
+    /// Calling this after every [`write`](Self::write) ensures streaming responses emit data
+    /// promptly instead of waiting until the stream ends.
+    fn flush(&mut self) -> Result<(), io::Error> {
+        match *self {
+            #[cfg(feature = "compress-brotli")]
+            ContentEncoder::Brotli(ref mut encoder) => encoder.flush(),
+
+            #[cfg(feature = "compress-gzip")]
+            ContentEncoder::Deflate(ref mut encoder) => encoder.flush(),
+
+            #[cfg(feature = "compress-gzip")]
+            ContentEncoder::Gzip(ref mut encoder) => encoder.flush(),
+
+            #[cfg(feature = "compress-zstd")]
+            ContentEncoder::Zstd(ref mut encoder) => encoder.flush(),
+        }
+    }
+
     fn write(&mut self, data: &[u8]) -> Result<(), io::Error> {
         match *self {
             #[cfg(feature = "compress-brotli")]

actix-web/tests/test_server.rs

@@ -405,6 +405,52 @@ async fn test_body_zstd_streaming() {
     srv.stop().await;
 }
 
+/// Regression test for https://github.com/actix/actix-web/issues/3410
+///
+/// Compress middleware must flush each chunk immediately so streaming responses
+/// deliver data progressively rather than buffering everything until the stream ends.
+#[actix_rt::test]
+#[cfg(feature = "compress-gzip")]
+async fn test_compress_streaming_flushes_chunks() {
+    use futures_util::StreamExt as _;
+
+    let srv = actix_test::start_with(actix_test::config().h1(), || {
+        App::new().wrap(Compress::default()).service(
+            web::resource("/").route(web::get().to(|| async {
+                // Two-chunk stream: first chunk arrives immediately, second after 500ms.
+                // Without the flush fix both chunks arrive together after 500ms.
+                let s = futures_util::stream::once(async {
+                    Ok::<_, std::io::Error>(Bytes::from("hello"))
+                })
+                .chain(futures_util::stream::once(async {
+                    tokio::time::sleep(Duration::from_millis(500)).await;
+                    Ok::<_, std::io::Error>(Bytes::from(" world"))
+                }));
+                HttpResponse::Ok().streaming(s)
+            })),
+        )
+    });
+
+    let mut res = srv
+        .get("/")
+        .no_decompress()
+        .append_header((header::ACCEPT_ENCODING, "gzip"))
+        .send()
+        .await
+        .unwrap();
+
+    assert_eq!(res.status(), StatusCode::OK);
+
+    // The first compressed chunk must arrive well before the 500ms delay.
+    let chunk = tokio::time::timeout(Duration::from_millis(200), res.next())
+        .await
+        .expect("first chunk must arrive before the 500ms stream delay (compress flush bug)")
+        .expect("stream should not be empty");
+    assert!(chunk.is_ok(), "chunk should not be an error");
+
+    srv.stop().await;
+}
+
 #[actix_rt::test]
 async fn test_zstd_encoding() {
     let srv = actix_test::start_with(actix_test::config().h1(), || {