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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.

Constructor

ReferenceError()

Creates a new ReferenceError object.

Instance properties

ReferenceError.prototype.message

Error message.

ReferenceError.prototype.name

Error name. Inherited from Error.

ReferenceError.prototype.fileName

Path to file that raised this error. Inherited from Error.

ReferenceError.prototype.lineNumber

Line number in file that raised this error. Inherited from Error.

ReferenceError.prototype.columnNumber

Column number in line that raised this error. Inherited from Error.

ReferenceError.prototype.stack

Stack trace. Inherited from 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.fileName)                   // "Scratchpad/1"
  console.log(e.lineNumber)                 // 2
  console.log(e.columnNumber)               // 6
  console.log(e.stack)                      // "@Scratchpad/2:2:7\n"
}

Creating a ReferenceError

try {
  throw new ReferenceError('Hello', 'someFile.js', 10)
} catch (e) {
  console.log(e instanceof ReferenceError)  // true
  console.log(e.message)                    // "Hello"
  console.log(e.name)                       // "ReferenceError"
  console.log(e.fileName)                   // "someFile.js"
  console.log(e.lineNumber)                 // 10
  console.log(e.columnNumber)               // 0
  console.log(e.stack)                      // "@Scratchpad/2:2:9\n"
}

Specifications

Browser compatibility

Desktop Mobile Server
Chrome Edge Firefox Internet Explorer Opera Safari WebView Android Chrome Android Firefox for Android Opera Android Safari on IOS Samsung Internet Deno Node.js
ReferenceError
1
12
1
5.5
5
1
1
18
4
10.1
1
1.0
1.0
0.10.0
ReferenceError
1
12
1
5.5
5
1
1
18
4
10.1
1
1.0
1.0
0.10.0

See also

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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