The constructor
property returns a reference to the Object
constructor function that created the instance object. Note that the value of this property is a reference to the function itself, not a string containing the function's name.
The value is only read-only for primitive values such as 1
, true
, and "test"
.
Description
All objects (with the exception of objects created with Object.create(null)
) will have a constructor
property. Objects created without the explicit use of a constructor function (such as object- and array-literals) will have a constructor
property that points to the Fundamental Object constructor type for that object.
let o = {} o.constructor === Object // true let o = new Object o.constructor === Object // true let a = [] a.constructor === Array // true let a = new Array a.constructor === Array // true let n = new Number(3) n.constructor === Number // true
Examples
Displaying the constructor of an object
The following example creates a constructor (Tree
) and an object of that type (theTree
). The example then displays the constructor
property for the object theTree
.
function Tree(name) { this.name = name } let theTree = new Tree('Redwood') console.log('theTree.constructor is ' + theTree.constructor)
This example displays the following output:
theTree.constructor is function Tree(name) { this.name = name }
Changing the constructor of an object
The following example shows how to modify constructor value of generic objects. Only true
, 1
, and "test"
will not be affected (as they have read-only native constructors).
This example shows that it is not always safe to rely on the constructor
property of an object.
function Type () {} let types = [ new Array(), [], new Boolean(), true, // remains unchanged new Date(), new Error(), new Function(), function () {}, Math, new Number(), 1, // remains unchanged new Object(), {}, new RegExp(), /(?:)/, new String(), 'test' // remains unchanged ] for (let i = 0; i < types.length; i++) { types[i].constructor = Type types[i] = [types[i].constructor, types[i] instanceof Type, types[i].toString()] } console.log(types.join('\n'))
This example displays the following output (comments added for reference):
function Type() {},false, // new Array() function Type() {},false, // [] function Type() {},false,false // new Boolean() function Boolean() { [native code] },false,true // true function Type() {},false,Mon Sep 01 2014 16:03:49 GMT+0600 // new Date() function Type() {},false,Error // new Error() function Type() {},false,function anonymous() { } // new Function() function Type() {},false,function () {} // function () {} function Type() {},false,[object Math] // Math function Type() {},false,0 // new Number() function Number() { [native code] },false,1 // 1 function Type() {},false,[object Object] // new Object() function Type() {},false,[object Object] // {} function Type() {},false,/(?:)/ // new Regexp() function Type() {},false,/(?:)/ // /(?:)/ function Type() {},false, // new String() function String() { [native code] },false,test // 'test'
Changing the constructor of a function
Mostly this property is used for defining a function as a function-constructor with further calling it with new and prototype-inherits chain.
function Parent() {} Parent.prototype.parentMethod = function parentMethod() {} function Child() {} Child.prototype = Object.create(Parent.prototype) // re-define child prototype to Parent prototype Child.prototype.constructor = Child // return original constructor to Child
But when do we need to perform last line here? Unfortunately, the answer is: it depends.
Let's try to define the cases in which re-assignment of the original constructor will play a major role, and when it will be one superfluous line of code.
Take the following case: the object has the create()
method to create itself.
function Parent() {} function CreatedConstructor() {} CreatedConstructor.prototype = Object.create(Parent.prototype) CreatedConstructor.prototype.create = function create() { return new this.constructor() } new CreatedConstructor().create().create() // TypeError undefined is not a function since constructor === Parent
In the example above the exception will be shown since constructor links to Parent.
To avoid this, just assign the necessary constructor you are going to use.
function Parent() {} function CreatedConstructor() {} CreatedConstructor.prototype = Object.create(Parent.prototype) CreatedConstructor.prototype.constructor = CreatedConstructor // sets the correct constructor for future use CreatedConstructor.prototype.create = function create() { return new this.constructor() } new CreatedConstructor().create().create() // it's pretty fine
Ok, now it's pretty clear why changing of the constructor can be useful.
Let's consider one more case.
function ParentWithStatic() {} ParentWithStatic.startPosition = { x: 0, y:0 } ParentWithStatic.getStartPosition = function getStartPosition() { return this.startPosition } function Child(x, y) { this.position = { x: x, y: y } } Child.prototype = Object.create(ParentWithStatic.prototype) Child.prototype.constructor = Child Child.prototype.getOffsetByInitialPosition = function getOffsetByInitialPosition() { let position = this.position let startPosition = this.constructor.getStartPosition() // error undefined is not a function, since the constructor is Child return { offsetX: startPosition.x - position.x, offsetY: startPosition.y - position.y } };
For this example we need to stay parent constructor to continue to work properly.
Summary: Manually updating or setting the constructor can lead to differrent and sometimes confusing consequences. To prevent this, just define the role of constructor
in each specific case. In most cases, constructor
is not used and reassignment of it is not necessary.
Specifications
Specification | Status | Comment |
---|---|---|
ECMAScript Latest Draft (ECMA-262) The definition of 'Object.prototype.constructor' in that specification. |
Draft | |
ECMAScript 2015 (6th Edition, ECMA-262) The definition of 'Object.prototype.constructor' in that specification. |
Standard | |
ECMAScript 5.1 (ECMA-262) The definition of 'Object.prototype.constructor' in that specification. |
Standard | |
ECMAScript 1st Edition (ECMA-262) | Standard | Initial definition. Implemented in JavaScript 1.1. |
Browser compatibility
Desktop | Mobile | Server | |||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
constructor | Chrome Full support 1 | Edge Full support 12 | Firefox Full support 1 | IE Full support 4 | Opera Full support Yes | Safari Full support Yes | WebView Android Full support 1 | Chrome Android Full support 18 | Firefox Android Full support 4 | Opera Android Full support Yes | Safari iOS Full support Yes | Samsung Internet Android Full support 1.0 | nodejs Full support Yes |
Legend
- Full support
- Full support