Web/JavaScript/Reference/Global objects/Object/propertyIsEnumerable

The propertyIsEnumerable() method returns a Boolean indicating whether the specified property is enumerable and is the object's own property.

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Syntax

obj.propertyIsEnumerable(prop)

Parameters

prop

The name of the property to test.

Return value

A Boolean indicating whether the specified property is enumerable and is the object's own property.

Description

Every object has a propertyIsEnumerable method. This method can determine whether the specified property in an object can be enumerated by a for...in loop, with the exception of properties inherited through the prototype chain. If the object does not have the specified property, this method returns false.

Examples

A basic use of propertyIsEnumerable

The following example shows the use of propertyIsEnumerable on objects and arrays:

var o = {};
var a = [];
o.prop = 'is enumerable';
a[0] = 'is enumerable';

o.propertyIsEnumerable('prop');   // returns true
a.propertyIsEnumerable(0);        // returns true

User-defined vs. built-in objects

The following example demonstrates the enumerability of user-defined vs. built-in properties:

var a = ['is enumerable'];

a.propertyIsEnumerable(0);          // returns true
a.propertyIsEnumerable('length');   // returns false

Math.propertyIsEnumerable('random');   // returns false
this.propertyIsEnumerable('Math');     // returns false

Direct vs. inherited properties

var a = [];
a.propertyIsEnumerable('constructor');         // returns false

function firstConstructor() {
  this.property = 'is not enumerable';
}

firstConstructor.prototype.firstMethod = function() {};

function secondConstructor() {
  this.method = function() { return 'is enumerable'; };
}

secondConstructor.prototype = new firstConstructor;
secondConstructor.prototype.constructor = secondConstructor;

var o = new secondConstructor();
o.arbitraryProperty = 'is enumerable';

o.propertyIsEnumerable('arbitraryProperty');   // returns true
o.propertyIsEnumerable('method');              // returns true
o.propertyIsEnumerable('property');            // returns false

o.property = 'is enumerable';

o.propertyIsEnumerable('property');            // returns true

// These return false as they are on the prototype which 
// propertyIsEnumerable does not consider (even though the last two
// are iteratable with for-in)
o.propertyIsEnumerable('prototype');   // returns false (as of JS 1.8.1/FF3.6)
o.propertyIsEnumerable('constructor'); // returns false
o.propertyIsEnumerable('firstMethod'); // returns false

Specifications

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

Browser compatibility

The compatibility table on this page is generated from structured data. If you'd like to contribute to the data, please check out https://github.com/mdn/browser-compat-data and send us a pull request.

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
propertyIsEnumerable	Chrome Full support 1	Edge Full support 12	Firefox Full support 1	IE Full support 5.5	Opera Full support 4	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

See also

• Enumerability and ownership of properties
• for...in
• Object.keys()
• Object.defineProperty()

Object.prototype.propertyIsEnumerable() by Mozilla Contributors is licensed under CC-BY-SA 2.5.