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

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

Browser compatibility

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