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

Browser compatibility

See also

• Error