ReferenceError

The ReferenceError object represents an error when a non-existent variable is referenced.

Constructor

ReferenceError()

Creates a new ReferenceError object.

Instance properties

ReferenceError.prototype.message

Error message. Although ECMA-262 specifies that ReferenceError should provide its own message property, in SpiderMonkey, it inherits Error.prototype.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

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

Browser compatibility

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

See also

© 2005–2021 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