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debugger

The debugger statement invokes any available debugging functionality, such as setting a breakpoint. If no debugging functionality is available, this statement has no effect.

Syntax

js
debugger;

Examples

Using the debugger statement

The following example shows code where a debugger statement has been inserted, to invoke a debugger (if one exists) when the function is called.

js
function potentiallyBuggyCode() {
  debugger;
  // do potentially buggy stuff to examine, step through, etc.
}

When the debugger is invoked, execution is paused at the debugger statement. It is like a breakpoint in the script source.

A browser with developer tools open to the debugger panel showing how execution is paused at the debugger statement to allow close inspection of variables, scopes, events, etc.

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
debugger 5 12 1 10 5 18 4 10.1 4.2 1.0 4.4 1.0 0.10.0

See also

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https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/JavaScript/Reference/Statements/debugger