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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

js
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

js
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

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

See also

© 2005–2023 MDN contributors.
Licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License v2.5 or later.
https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/JavaScript/Reference/Global_Objects/ReferenceError