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ReferenceError

The ReferenceError object represents an error when a variable that doesn't exist (or hasn't yet been initialized) in the current scope is referenced.

ReferenceError is a serializable object, so it can be cloned with structuredClone() or copied between Workers using postMessage().

ReferenceError is a subclass of Error.

Constructor

ReferenceError(): Creates a new ReferenceError object.

Instance properties

Also inherits instance properties from its parent Error.

These properties are defined on ReferenceError.prototype and shared by all ReferenceError instances.

ReferenceError.prototype.constructor: The constructor function that created the instance object. For ReferenceError instances, the initial value is the ReferenceError constructor.
ReferenceError.prototype.name: Represents the name for the type of error. For ReferenceError.prototype.name, the initial value is "ReferenceError".

Instance methods

Inherits instance methods from its parent Error.

Examples

Catching a ReferenceError

try {
  let a = undefinedVariable;
} catch (e) {
  console.log(e instanceof ReferenceError); // true
  console.log(e.message); // "undefinedVariable is not defined"
  console.log(e.name); // "ReferenceError"
  console.log(e.stack); // Stack of the error
}

Creating a ReferenceError

try {
  throw new ReferenceError("Hello");
} catch (e) {
  console.log(e instanceof ReferenceError); // true
  console.log(e.message); // "Hello"
  console.log(e.name); // "ReferenceError"
  console.log(e.stack); // Stack of the error
}

Specifications

Specification
ECMAScript Language Specification # sec-native-error-types-used-in-this-standard-referenceerror

Browser compatibility

	Desktop						Mobile						Server
	Chrome	Edge	Firefox	Opera	Safari	Chrome Android	Firefox for Android	Opera Android	Safari on IOS	Samsung Internet	WebView Android	Deno	Node.js
`ReferenceError`	1	12	1	5	1	18	4	10.1	1	1.0	4.4	1.0	0.10.0
`ReferenceError`	1	12	1	5	1	18	4	10.1	1	1.0	4.4	1.0	0.10.0
`serializable_object`	77	79	103 ["Version 103 serializable properties: `name`, `message`, `cause`, `fileName`, `lineNumber` and `columnNumber`.", "Version 104 also serializes `stack` in the main thread (`window.postMessage()` and `structuredClone()`).", "Version 110 also serializes `stack` in workers (`worker.postMessage()` and `structuredClone()`)."]	64	No	77	103 ["Version 103 serializable properties: `name`, `message`, `cause`, `fileName`, `lineNumber` and `columnNumber`.", "Version 104 also serializes `stack` in the main thread (`window.postMessage()` and `structuredClone()`).", "Version 110 also serializes `stack` in workers (`worker.postMessage()` and `structuredClone()`)."]	55	No	12.0	77	No	No