Web/JavaScript/Reference/Global objects/Reflect/getPrototypeOf

The static Reflect.getPrototypeOf() method is almost the same method as Object.getPrototypeOf(). It returns the prototype (i.e. the value of the internal Web/JavaScript/Reference/Global objects/Reflect/Prototype property) of the specified object.

Syntax

Reflect.getPrototypeOf(target)

Parameters

target: The target object of which to get the prototype.

Return value

The prototype of the given object. If there are no inherited properties, null is returned.

Exceptions

A TypeError, if target is not an Object.

Description

The Reflect.getPrototypeOf method returns the prototype (i.e. the value of the internal Web/JavaScript/Reference/Global objects/Reflect/Prototype property) of the specified object.

Examples

Using Reflect.getPrototypeOf()

Reflect.getPrototypeOf({})                  // Object.prototype
Reflect.getPrototypeOf(Object.prototype)    // null
Reflect.getPrototypeOf(Object.create(null)) // null

Compared to Object.getPrototypeOf()

// Same result for Objects
Object.getPrototypeOf({})   // Object.prototype
Reflect.getPrototypeOf({})  // Object.prototype

// Both throw in ES5 for non-Objects
Object.getPrototypeOf('foo')   // Throws TypeError
Reflect.getPrototypeOf('foo')  // Throws TypeError

// In ES2015 only Reflect throws, Object coerces non-Objects
Object.getPrototypeOf('foo')   // String.prototype
Reflect.getPrototypeOf('foo')  // Throws TypeError

// To mimic the Object ES2015 behavior you need to coerce
Reflect.getPrototypeOf(Object('foo'))  // String.prototype

Specifications

Specification
ECMAScript (ECMA-262)The definition of 'Reflect.getPrototypeOf' 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
`getPrototypeOf`	Chrome Full support 49	Edge Full support 12	Firefox Full support 42	IE No support No	Opera Full support 36	Safari Full support 10	WebView Android Full support 49	Chrome Android Full support 49	Firefox Android Full support 42	Opera Android Full support 36	Safari iOS Full support 10	Samsung Internet Android Full support 5.0	nodejs Full support 6.0.0

Legend

Full support: Full support
No support: No support