The instanceof
operator tests whether an object has in its prototype chain the prototype
property of a constructor.
Syntax
object instanceof constructor
Parameters
- The object to test.
object
- Function to test against
constructor
Description
The instanceof
operator tests presence of constructor.prototype
in object
's prototype chain.
// defining constructors
function C(){}
function D(){}
var o = new C();
// true, because: Object.getPrototypeOf(o) === C.prototype
o instanceof C;
// false, because D.prototype is nowhere in o's prototype chain
o instanceof D;
o instanceof Object; // true, because:
C.prototype instanceof Object // true
C.prototype = {};
var o2 = new C();
o2 instanceof C; // true
// false, because C.prototype is nowhere in
// o's prototype chain anymore
o instanceof C;
D.prototype = new C(); // use inheritance
var o3 = new D();
o3 instanceof D; // true
o3 instanceof C; // true
Note that if the value of an instanceof
test can change based on changes to the prototype
property of constructors, it cannot be changed by changing an object prototype, because changing an object prototype is not possible in standard ECMAScript. It is however possible using the non-standard__proto__
pseudo-property.
instanceof
and multiple context (e.g. frames or windows)
Different scope have different execution environments. This means that they have different built-ins (different global object, different constructors, etc.). This may result in unexpected results. For instance,[] instanceof window.frames[0].Array
will return false
, because Array.prototype !==
window.frames[0].Array
and arrays inherit from the former. This may not make sense at first but when you start dealing with multiple frames or windows in your script and pass objects from one context to another via functions, this will be a valid and strong issue. For instance, you can securely check if a given object is in fact an Array using Array.isArray(myObj)
Examples
Demonstrating that String
and Date
are of type Object
and exceptional cases
The following code uses instanceof
to demonstrate that String
and Date
objects are also of typeObject
(they are derived from Object
).
However, objects created with the object literal notation are an exception here: Although the prototype is undefined, instanceof Object
returns true
.
var simpleStr = "This is a simple string";
var myString = new String();
var newStr = new String("String created with constructor");
var myDate = new Date();
var myObj = {};
simpleStr instanceof String; // returns false, checks the prototype chain, finds undefined
myString instanceof String; // returns true
newStr instanceof String; // returns true
myString instanceof Object; // returns true
myObj instanceof Object; // returns true, despite an undefined prototype
({}) instanceof Object; // returns true, same case as above
myString instanceof Date; // returns false
myDate instanceof Date; // returns true
myDate instanceof Object; // returns true
myDate instanceof String; // returns false
Demonstrating that mycar
is of type Car
and type Object
The following code creates an object type Car
and an instance of that object type, mycar
. Theinstanceof
operator demonstrates that the mycar
object is of type Car
and of type Object
.
function Car(make, model, year) {
this.make = make;
this.model = model;
this.year = year;
}
var mycar = new Car("Honda", "Accord", 1998);
var a = mycar instanceof Car; // returns true
var b = mycar instanceof Object; // returns true
Specifications
Specification | Status | Comment |
---|---|---|
ECMAScript 2017 Draft (ECMA-262) The definition of 'Relational Operators' in that specification. | Draft | |
ECMAScript 2015 (6th Edition, ECMA-262) The definition of 'Relational Operators' in that specification. | Standard | |
ECMAScript 5.1 (ECMA-262) The definition of 'The instanceof operator' in that specification. | Standard | |
ECMAScript 3rd Edition (ECMA-262) The definition of 'The instanceof operator' in that specification. | Standard | Initial definition. Implemented in JavaScript 1.4. |
Browser compatibility
Feature | Chrome | Firefox (Gecko) | Internet Explorer | Opera | Safari |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Basic support | (Yes) | (Yes) | (Yes) | (Yes) | (Yes) |