Web/JavaScript/Reference/Global objects/Object/ defineGetter

This feature is deprecated in favor of defining getters using the object initializer syntax or the Object.defineProperty() API. While this feature is widely implemented, it is only described in the ECMAScript specification because of legacy usage. This method should not be used since better alternatives exist.

The __defineGetter__ method binds an object's property to a function to be called when that property is looked up.

Syntax

obj.__defineGetter__(prop, func)

Parameters

prop: A string containing the name of the property to bind to the given function.
func: A function to be bound to a lookup of the specified property.

Return value

undefined.

Description

The __defineGetter__ allows a getter to be defined on a pre-existing object.

Examples

Non-standard and deprecated way

var o = {};
o.__defineGetter__('gimmeFive', function() { return 5; });
console.log(o.gimmeFive); // 5

Standard-compliant ways

// Using the get operator
var o = { get gimmeFive() { return 5; } };
console.log(o.gimmeFive); // 5

// Using Object.defineProperty
var o = {};
Object.defineProperty(o, 'gimmeFive', {
  get: function() {
    return 5;
  }
});
console.log(o.gimmeFive); // 5

Specifications

Specification
ECMAScript (ECMA-262)The definition of 'Object.prototype.__defineGetter__()' in that specification.

Browser compatibility

Update compatibility data on GitHub

	Desktop						Mobile						Server
	Chrome	Edge	Firefox	Internet Explorer	Opera	Safari	Android webview	Chrome for Android	Firefox for Android	Opera for Android	Safari on iOS	Samsung Internet	Node.js
`__defineGetter__` Deprecated'	Chrome Full support 1	Edge Full support 12	Firefox Full support 1 Notes' Full support 1 Notes' Notes' Starting with Firefox 48, this method can no longer be called at the global scope without any object. A `TypeError` will be thrown otherwise. Previously, the global object was used in these cases automatically, but this is no longer the case.	IE Full support 11	Opera Full support 9.5	Safari Full support 3	WebView Android Full support 1	Chrome Android Full support 18	Firefox Android Full support 4	Opera Android Full support 10.1	Safari iOS Full support 1	Samsung Internet Android Full support 1.0	nodejs Full support Yes

Legend

Full support: Full support
Deprecated. Not for use in new websites.': Deprecated. Not for use in new websites.
See implementation notes.': See implementation notes.