diff --git a/doc/api/worker.md b/doc/api/worker.md
index 6a391c5a9e3b19..974ff2e46710db 100644
--- a/doc/api/worker.md
+++ b/doc/api/worker.md
@@ -85,14 +85,16 @@ to stringify.
 
 `transferList` may be a list of `ArrayBuffer` and `MessagePort` objects.
 After transferring, they will not be usable on the sending side of the channel
-anymore (even if they are not contained in `value`).
+anymore (even if they are not contained in `value`). Unlike with
+[child processes][], transferring handles such as network sockets is currently
+not supported.
+
+If `value` contains [`SharedArrayBuffer`][] instances, those will be accessible
+from either thread. They cannot be listed in `transferList`.
 
 `value` may still contain `ArrayBuffer` instances that are not in
 `transferList`; in that case, the underlying memory is copied rather than moved.
 
-For more information on the serialization and deserialization mechanisms
-behind this API, see the [serialization API of the `v8` module][v8.serdes].
-
 Because the object cloning uses the structured clone algorithm,
 non-enumerable properties, property accessors, and object prototypes are
 not preserved. In particular, [`Buffer`][] objects will be read as
@@ -101,6 +103,9 @@ plain [`Uint8Array`][]s on the receiving side.
 The message object will be cloned immediately, and can be modified after
 posting without having side effects.
 
+For more information on the serialization and deserialization mechanisms
+behind this API, see the [serialization API of the `v8` module][v8.serdes].
+
 ### port.ref()
 <!-- YAML
 added: REPLACEME
@@ -137,10 +142,12 @@ be `ref()`ed and `unref()`ed automatically depending on whether
 listeners for the event exist.
 
 [`Buffer`]: buffer.html
+[child processes]: child_process.html
 [`EventEmitter`]: events.html
 [`MessagePort`]: #worker_class_messageport
 [`port.postMessage()`]: #worker_port_postmessage_value_transferlist
 [v8.serdes]: v8.html#v8_serialization_api
+[`SharedArrayBuffer`]: https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/JavaScript/Reference/Global_Objects/SharedArrayBuffer
 [`Uint8Array`]: https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/JavaScript/Reference/Global_Objects/Uint8Array
 [browser `MessagePort`]: https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/API/MessagePort
 [HTML structured clone algorithm]: https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/API/Web_Workers_API/Structured_clone_algorithm
diff --git a/node.gyp b/node.gyp
index 72a5d05c43d035..823dda45b03280 100644
--- a/node.gyp
+++ b/node.gyp
@@ -352,6 +352,7 @@
         'src/node_i18n.cc',
         'src/pipe_wrap.cc',
         'src/process_wrap.cc',
+        'src/sharedarraybuffer_metadata.cc',
         'src/signal_wrap.cc',
         'src/spawn_sync.cc',
         'src/string_bytes.cc',
@@ -411,6 +412,7 @@
         'src/udp_wrap.h',
         'src/req_wrap.h',
         'src/req_wrap-inl.h',
+        'src/sharedarraybuffer_metadata.h',
         'src/string_bytes.h',
         'src/string_decoder.h',
         'src/string_decoder-inl.h',
diff --git a/src/env.h b/src/env.h
index d87c39c5186bd7..f1e9ccaef268f0 100644
--- a/src/env.h
+++ b/src/env.h
@@ -106,6 +106,7 @@ struct PackageConfig {
   V(decorated_private_symbol, "node:decorated")                               \
   V(napi_env, "node:napi:env")                                                \
   V(napi_wrapper, "node:napi:wrapper")                                        \
+  V(sab_lifetimepartner_symbol, "node:sharedArrayBufferLifetimePartner")      \
 
 // Symbols are per-isolate primitives but Environment proxies them
 // for the sake of convenience.
@@ -338,6 +339,7 @@ struct PackageConfig {
   V(promise_wrap_template, v8::ObjectTemplate)                                \
   V(push_values_to_array_function, v8::Function)                              \
   V(randombytes_constructor_template, v8::ObjectTemplate)                     \
+  V(sab_lifetimepartner_constructor_template, v8::FunctionTemplate)           \
   V(script_context_constructor_template, v8::FunctionTemplate)                \
   V(script_data_constructor_function, v8::Function)                           \
   V(secure_context_constructor_template, v8::FunctionTemplate)                \
diff --git a/src/node_errors.h b/src/node_errors.h
index 0c4964312e91d3..c9b8e064d49999 100644
--- a/src/node_errors.h
+++ b/src/node_errors.h
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@ namespace node {
   V(ERR_MISSING_MESSAGE_PORT_IN_TRANSFER_LIST, TypeError)                    \
   V(ERR_MISSING_MODULE, Error)                                               \
   V(ERR_STRING_TOO_LONG, Error)                                              \
+  V(ERR_TRANSFERRING_EXTERNALIZED_SHAREDARRAYBUFFER, TypeError)              \
 
 #define V(code, type)                                                         \
   inline v8::Local<v8::Value> code(v8::Isolate* isolate,                      \
@@ -60,7 +61,9 @@ namespace node {
   V(ERR_INVALID_TRANSFER_OBJECT, "Found invalid object in transferList")     \
   V(ERR_MEMORY_ALLOCATION_FAILED, "Failed to allocate memory")               \
   V(ERR_MISSING_MESSAGE_PORT_IN_TRANSFER_LIST,                               \
-    "MessagePort was found in message but not listed in transferList")
+    "MessagePort was found in message but not listed in transferList")       \
+  V(ERR_TRANSFERRING_EXTERNALIZED_SHAREDARRAYBUFFER,                         \
+    "Cannot serialize externalized SharedArrayBuffer")                       \
 
 #define V(code, message)                                                     \
   inline v8::Local<v8::Value> code(v8::Isolate* isolate) {                   \
diff --git a/src/node_messaging.cc b/src/node_messaging.cc
index 1c6551e0969f3e..ede38cc817bfbb 100644
--- a/src/node_messaging.cc
+++ b/src/node_messaging.cc
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ using v8::Maybe;
 using v8::MaybeLocal;
 using v8::Nothing;
 using v8::Object;
+using v8::SharedArrayBuffer;
 using v8::String;
 using v8::Value;
 using v8::ValueDeserializer;
@@ -43,8 +44,13 @@ class DeserializerDelegate : public ValueDeserializer::Delegate {
  public:
   DeserializerDelegate(Message* m,
                        Environment* env,
-                       const std::vector<MessagePort*>& message_ports)
-    : env_(env), msg_(m), message_ports_(message_ports) {}
+                       const std::vector<MessagePort*>& message_ports,
+                       const std::vector<Local<SharedArrayBuffer>>&
+                           shared_array_buffers)
+    : env_(env),
+      msg_(m),
+      message_ports_(message_ports),
+      shared_array_buffers_(shared_array_buffers) {}
 
   MaybeLocal<Object> ReadHostObject(Isolate* isolate) override {
     // Currently, only MessagePort hosts objects are supported, so identifying
@@ -56,12 +62,19 @@ class DeserializerDelegate : public ValueDeserializer::Delegate {
     return message_ports_[id]->object();
   };
 
+  MaybeLocal<SharedArrayBuffer> GetSharedArrayBufferFromId(
+      Isolate* isolate, uint32_t clone_id) override {
+    CHECK_LE(clone_id, shared_array_buffers_.size());
+    return shared_array_buffers_[clone_id];
+  }
+
   ValueDeserializer* deserializer = nullptr;
 
  private:
   Environment* env_;
   Message* msg_;
   const std::vector<MessagePort*>& message_ports_;
+  const std::vector<Local<SharedArrayBuffer>>& shared_array_buffers_;
 };
 
 }  // anonymous namespace
@@ -87,7 +100,18 @@ MaybeLocal<Value> Message::Deserialize(Environment* env,
   }
   message_ports_.clear();
 
-  DeserializerDelegate delegate(this, env, ports);
+  std::vector<Local<SharedArrayBuffer>> shared_array_buffers;
+  // Attach all transfered SharedArrayBuffers to their new Isolate.
+  for (uint32_t i = 0; i < shared_array_buffers_.size(); ++i) {
+    Local<SharedArrayBuffer> sab;
+    if (!shared_array_buffers_[i]->GetSharedArrayBuffer(env, context)
+            .ToLocal(&sab))
+      return MaybeLocal<Value>();
+    shared_array_buffers.push_back(sab);
+  }
+  shared_array_buffers_.clear();
+
+  DeserializerDelegate delegate(this, env, ports, shared_array_buffers);
   ValueDeserializer deserializer(
       env->isolate(),
       reinterpret_cast<const uint8_t*>(main_message_buf_.data),
@@ -112,6 +136,11 @@ MaybeLocal<Value> Message::Deserialize(Environment* env,
       deserializer.ReadValue(context).FromMaybe(Local<Value>()));
 }
 
+void Message::AddSharedArrayBuffer(
+    SharedArrayBufferMetadataReference reference) {
+  shared_array_buffers_.push_back(reference);
+}
+
 void Message::AddMessagePort(std::unique_ptr<MessagePortData>&& data) {
   message_ports_.emplace_back(std::move(data));
 }
@@ -139,6 +168,27 @@ class SerializerDelegate : public ValueSerializer::Delegate {
     return Nothing<bool>();
   }
 
+  Maybe<uint32_t> GetSharedArrayBufferId(
+      Isolate* isolate,
+      Local<SharedArrayBuffer> shared_array_buffer) override {
+    uint32_t i;
+    for (i = 0; i < seen_shared_array_buffers_.size(); ++i) {
+      if (seen_shared_array_buffers_[i] == shared_array_buffer)
+        return Just(i);
+    }
+
+    auto reference = SharedArrayBufferMetadata::ForSharedArrayBuffer(
+        env_,
+        context_,
+        shared_array_buffer);
+    if (!reference) {
+      return Nothing<uint32_t>();
+    }
+    seen_shared_array_buffers_.push_back(shared_array_buffer);
+    msg_->AddSharedArrayBuffer(reference);
+    return Just(i);
+  }
+
   void Finish() {
     // Only close the MessagePort handles and actually transfer them
     // once we know that serialization succeeded.
@@ -166,6 +216,7 @@ class SerializerDelegate : public ValueSerializer::Delegate {
   Environment* env_;
   Local<Context> context_;
   Message* msg_;
+  std::vector<Local<SharedArrayBuffer>> seen_shared_array_buffers_;
   std::vector<MessagePort*> ports_;
 
   friend class worker::Message;
diff --git a/src/node_messaging.h b/src/node_messaging.h
index 074267bb67c2dd..ff8fcc72439e9f 100644
--- a/src/node_messaging.h
+++ b/src/node_messaging.h
@@ -5,8 +5,8 @@
 
 #include "env.h"
 #include "node_mutex.h"
+#include "sharedarraybuffer_metadata.h"
 #include <list>
-#include <memory>
 
 namespace node {
 namespace worker {
@@ -37,6 +37,9 @@ class Message {
                             v8::Local<v8::Value> input,
                             v8::Local<v8::Value> transfer_list);
 
+  // Internal method of Message that is called when a new SharedArrayBuffer
+  // object is encountered in the incoming value's structure.
+  void AddSharedArrayBuffer(SharedArrayBufferMetadataReference ref);
   // Internal method of Message that is called once serialization finishes
   // and that transfers ownership of `data` to this message.
   void AddMessagePort(std::unique_ptr<MessagePortData>&& data);
@@ -44,6 +47,7 @@ class Message {
  private:
   MallocedBuffer<char> main_message_buf_;
   std::vector<MallocedBuffer<char>> array_buffer_contents_;
+  std::vector<SharedArrayBufferMetadataReference> shared_array_buffers_;
   std::vector<std::unique_ptr<MessagePortData>> message_ports_;
 
   friend class MessagePort;
diff --git a/src/sharedarraybuffer_metadata.cc b/src/sharedarraybuffer_metadata.cc
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000000..86476a9f12c38b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/sharedarraybuffer_metadata.cc
@@ -0,0 +1,129 @@
+#include "sharedarraybuffer_metadata.h"
+#include "base_object.h"
+#include "base_object-inl.h"
+#include "node_errors.h"
+
+using v8::Context;
+using v8::Function;
+using v8::FunctionTemplate;
+using v8::Local;
+using v8::Maybe;
+using v8::MaybeLocal;
+using v8::Nothing;
+using v8::Object;
+using v8::SharedArrayBuffer;
+using v8::Value;
+
+namespace node {
+namespace worker {
+
+namespace {
+
+// Yield a JS constructor for SABLifetimePartner objects in the form of a
+// standard API object, that has a single field for containing the raw
+// SABLiftimePartner* pointer.
+Local<Function> GetSABLifetimePartnerConstructor(
+    Environment* env, Local<Context> context) {
+  Local<FunctionTemplate> templ;
+  templ = env->sab_lifetimepartner_constructor_template();
+  if (!templ.IsEmpty())
+    return templ->GetFunction(context).ToLocalChecked();
+
+  templ = BaseObject::MakeLazilyInitializedJSTemplate(env);
+  templ->SetClassName(FIXED_ONE_BYTE_STRING(env->isolate(),
+                                            "SABLifetimePartner"));
+  env->set_sab_lifetimepartner_constructor_template(templ);
+
+  return GetSABLifetimePartnerConstructor(env, context);
+}
+
+class SABLifetimePartner : public BaseObject {
+ public:
+  SABLifetimePartner(Environment* env,
+                     Local<Object> obj,
+                     SharedArrayBufferMetadataReference r)
+    : BaseObject(env, obj),
+      reference(r) {
+    MakeWeak();
+  }
+
+  SharedArrayBufferMetadataReference reference;
+};
+
+}  // anonymous namespace
+
+SharedArrayBufferMetadataReference
+SharedArrayBufferMetadata::ForSharedArrayBuffer(
+    Environment* env,
+    Local<Context> context,
+    Local<SharedArrayBuffer> source) {
+  Local<Value> lifetime_partner;
+
+  if (!source->GetPrivate(context,
+                          env->sab_lifetimepartner_symbol())
+                              .ToLocal(&lifetime_partner)) {
+    return nullptr;
+  }
+
+  if (lifetime_partner->IsObject() &&
+      env->sab_lifetimepartner_constructor_template()
+         ->HasInstance(lifetime_partner)) {
+    CHECK(source->IsExternal());
+    SABLifetimePartner* partner =
+        Unwrap<SABLifetimePartner>(lifetime_partner.As<Object>());
+    CHECK_NE(partner, nullptr);
+    return partner->reference;
+  }
+
+  if (source->IsExternal()) {
+    // If this is an external SharedArrayBuffer but we do not see a lifetime
+    // partner object, it was not us who externalized it. In that case, there
+    // is no way to serialize it, because it's unclear how the memory
+    // is actually owned.
+    THROW_ERR_TRANSFERRING_EXTERNALIZED_SHAREDARRAYBUFFER(env);
+    return nullptr;
+  }
+
+  SharedArrayBuffer::Contents contents = source->Externalize();
+  SharedArrayBufferMetadataReference r(new SharedArrayBufferMetadata(
+      contents.Data(), contents.ByteLength()));
+  if (r->AssignToSharedArrayBuffer(env, context, source).IsNothing())
+    return nullptr;
+  return r;
+}
+
+Maybe<bool> SharedArrayBufferMetadata::AssignToSharedArrayBuffer(
+    Environment* env, Local<Context> context,
+    Local<SharedArrayBuffer> target) {
+  CHECK(target->IsExternal());
+  Local<Function> ctor = GetSABLifetimePartnerConstructor(env, context);
+  Local<Object> obj;
+  if (!ctor->NewInstance(context).ToLocal(&obj))
+    return Nothing<bool>();
+
+  new SABLifetimePartner(env, obj, shared_from_this());
+  return target->SetPrivate(context,
+                            env->sab_lifetimepartner_symbol(),
+                            obj);
+}
+
+SharedArrayBufferMetadata::SharedArrayBufferMetadata(void* data, size_t size)
+  : data(data), size(size) { }
+
+SharedArrayBufferMetadata::~SharedArrayBufferMetadata() {
+  free(data);
+}
+
+MaybeLocal<SharedArrayBuffer> SharedArrayBufferMetadata::GetSharedArrayBuffer(
+    Environment* env, Local<Context> context) {
+  Local<SharedArrayBuffer> obj =
+      SharedArrayBuffer::New(env->isolate(), data, size);
+
+  if (AssignToSharedArrayBuffer(env, context, obj).IsNothing())
+    return MaybeLocal<SharedArrayBuffer>();
+
+  return obj;
+}
+
+}  // namespace worker
+}  // namespace node
diff --git a/src/sharedarraybuffer_metadata.h b/src/sharedarraybuffer_metadata.h
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000000..84bfd224fabcf8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/sharedarraybuffer_metadata.h
@@ -0,0 +1,67 @@
+#ifndef SRC_SHAREDARRAYBUFFER_METADATA_H_
+#define SRC_SHAREDARRAYBUFFER_METADATA_H_
+
+#if defined(NODE_WANT_INTERNALS) && NODE_WANT_INTERNALS
+
+#include "node.h"
+#include <memory>
+
+namespace node {
+namespace worker {
+
+class SharedArrayBufferMetadata;
+
+// This is an object associated with a SharedArrayBuffer, which keeps track
+// of a cross-thread reference count. Once a SharedArrayBuffer is transferred
+// for the first time (or is attempted to be transferred), one of these objects
+// is created, and the SharedArrayBuffer is moved from internalized mode into
+// externalized mode (i.e. the JS engine no longer frees the memory on its own).
+//
+// This will always be referred to using a std::shared_ptr, since it keeps
+// a reference count and is guaranteed to be thread-safe.
+typedef std::shared_ptr<SharedArrayBufferMetadata>
+    SharedArrayBufferMetadataReference;
+
+class SharedArrayBufferMetadata
+    : public std::enable_shared_from_this<SharedArrayBufferMetadata> {
+ public:
+  static SharedArrayBufferMetadataReference ForSharedArrayBuffer(
+      Environment* env,
+      v8::Local<v8::Context> context,
+      v8::Local<v8::SharedArrayBuffer> source);
+  ~SharedArrayBufferMetadata();
+
+  // Create a SharedArrayBuffer object for a specific Environment and Context.
+  // The created SharedArrayBuffer will be in externalized mode and has
+  // a hidden object attached to it, during whose lifetime the reference
+  // count is increased by 1.
+  v8::MaybeLocal<v8::SharedArrayBuffer> GetSharedArrayBuffer(
+      Environment* env, v8::Local<v8::Context> context);
+
+  SharedArrayBufferMetadata(SharedArrayBufferMetadata&& other) = delete;
+  SharedArrayBufferMetadata& operator=(
+      SharedArrayBufferMetadata&& other) = delete;
+  SharedArrayBufferMetadata& operator=(
+      const SharedArrayBufferMetadata&) = delete;
+  SharedArrayBufferMetadata(const SharedArrayBufferMetadata&) = delete;
+
+ private:
+  explicit SharedArrayBufferMetadata(void* data, size_t size);
+
+  // Attach a lifetime tracker object with a reference count to `target`.
+  v8::Maybe<bool> AssignToSharedArrayBuffer(
+      Environment* env,
+      v8::Local<v8::Context> context,
+      v8::Local<v8::SharedArrayBuffer> target);
+
+  void* data = nullptr;
+  size_t size = 0;
+};
+
+}  // namespace worker
+}  // namespace node
+
+#endif  // defined(NODE_WANT_INTERNALS) && NODE_WANT_INTERNALS
+
+
+#endif  // SRC_SHAREDARRAYBUFFER_METADATA_H_