ReferenceError() constructor

The ReferenceError object represents an error when a non-existent variable is referenced.

Syntax

new ReferenceError()
new ReferenceError(message)
new ReferenceError(message, options)
new ReferenceError(message, fileName)
new ReferenceError(message, fileName, lineNumber)

ReferenceError()
ReferenceError(message)
ReferenceError(message, options)
ReferenceError(message, fileName)
ReferenceError(message, fileName, lineNumber)

Note: ReferenceError() can be called with or without new. Both create a new ReferenceError instance.

Parameters

message Optional

Human-readable description of the error.

options Optional

An object that has the following properties:

cause Optional

A property indicating the specific cause of the error. When catching and re-throwing an error with a more-specific or useful error message, this property can be used to pass the original error.

fileName Optional

The name of the file containing the code that caused the exception.

lineNumber Optional

The line number of the code that caused the exception

Examples

Catching a ReferenceError

try {
  let a = undefinedVariable
} catch (e) {
  console.log(e instanceof ReferenceError)  // true
  console.log(e.message)                    // "undefinedVariable is not defined"
  console.log(e.name)                       // "ReferenceError"
  console.log(e.fileName)                   // "Scratchpad/1"
  console.log(e.lineNumber)                 // 2
  console.log(e.columnNumber)               // 6
  console.log(e.stack)                      // "@Scratchpad/2:2:7\n"
}

Creating a ReferenceError

try {
  throw new ReferenceError('Hello', 'someFile.js', 10)
} catch (e) {
  console.log(e instanceof ReferenceError)  // true
  console.log(e.message)                    // "Hello"
  console.log(e.name)                       // "ReferenceError"
  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 Language Specification
# sec-nativeerror-constructors

Browser compatibility

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See also