Web/JavaScript/Reference/Global objects/TypeError

The TypeError object represents an error when an operation could not be performed, typically (but not exclusively) when a value is not of the expected type.

A TypeError may be thrown when:

• an operand or argument passed to a function is incompatible with the type expected by that operator or function; or
• when attempting to modify a value that cannot be changed; or
• when attempting to use a value in an inappropriate way.

Constructor

TypeError()

Creates a new TypeError object.

Instance properties

TypeError.prototype.message

Error message. Although ECMA-262 specifies that TypeError should provide its own message property, in SpiderMonkey, it inherits Error.prototype.message.

TypeError.prototype.name

Error name. Inherited from Error.

TypeError.prototype.fileName

Path to file that raised this error. Inherited from Error.

TypeError.prototype.lineNumber

Line number in file that raised this error. Inherited from Error.

TypeError.prototype.columnNumber

Column number in line that raised this error. Inherited from Error.

TypeError.prototype.stack

Stack trace. Inherited from Error.

Examples

Catching a TypeError

try {
  null.f() 
} catch (e) {
  console.log(e instanceof TypeError)  // true
  console.log(e.message)               // "null has no properties"
  console.log(e.name)                  // "TypeError"
  console.log(e.fileName)              // "Scratchpad/1"
  console.log(e.lineNumber)            // 2
  console.log(e.columnNumber)          // 2
  console.log(e.stack)                 // "@Scratchpad/2:2:3\n"
}

Creating a TypeError

try {
  throw new TypeError('Hello', "someFile.js", 10) 
} catch (e) {
  console.log(e instanceof TypeError)  // true
  console.log(e.message)               // "Hello"
  console.log(e.name)                  // "TypeError"
  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 (ECMA-262)The definition of 'TypeError' 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
TypeError	Chrome Full support 1	Edge Full support 12	Firefox Full support 1	IE Full support 5.5	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
TypeError() constructor	Chrome Full support 1	Edge Full support 12	Firefox Full support 1	IE Full support 5.5	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

Legend

Full support  

Full support

See also

• Error

TypeError by Mozilla Contributors is licensed under CC-BY-SA 2.5.