Web/JavaScript/Reference/Global objects/RegExp/toString

The toString() method returns a string representing the regular expression.

Syntax

regexObj.toString();

Return value

A string representing the given object.

Description

The RegExp object overrides the toString() method of the Object object; it does not inherit Object.prototype.toString(). For RegExp objects, the toString() method returns a string representation of the regular expression.

Examples

Using toString()

The following example displays the string value of a RegExp object:

var myExp = new RegExp('a+b+c');
console.log(myExp.toString());  // logs '/a+b+c/'

var foo = new RegExp('bar', 'g');
console.log(foo.toString());    // logs '/bar/g'

Empty regular expressions and escaping

Starting with ECMAScript 5, an empty regular expression returns the string "/(?:)/" and line terminators such as "\n" are escaped:

new RegExp().toString(); // "/(?:)/"

new RegExp('\n').toString() === '/\n/';  // true, prior to ES5
new RegExp('\n').toString() === '/\\n/'; // true, starting with ES5

Specifications

Specification
ECMAScript (ECMA-262)The definition of 'RegExp.prototype.toString' 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
`toString`	Chrome Full support 1	Edge Full support 12	Firefox Full support 1	IE Full support 4	Opera Full support 5	Safari Full support 1	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 0.1.100
Escaping	Chrome Full support 73	Edge Full support 12	Firefox Full support 38	IE Full support 9	Opera Full support 60	Safari Full support 6	WebView Android Full support 73	Chrome Android Full support 73	Firefox Android Full support 38	Opera Android Full support 52	Safari iOS Full support 6	Samsung Internet Android No support No	nodejs Full support 12.0.0

Legend

Full support: Full support
No support: No support