typeof for RegExp typeof for RegExp javascript javascript

typeof for RegExp


You can use instanceof operator:

var t = /^foo(bar)?$/i;alert(t instanceof RegExp);//returns true

In fact, that is almost the same as:

var t = /^foo(bar)?$/i;alert(t.constructor == RegExp);//returns true

Keep in mind that as RegExp is not a primitive data type, it is not possible to use typeof operator which could be the best option for this question.

But you can use this trick above or others like duck type checking, for example, checking if such object has any vital methods or properties, or by its internal class value (by using {}.toString.call(instaceOfMyObject)).


alert( Object.prototype.toString.call( t ) ); // [object RegExp]

This is the way mentioned in the specification for getting the class of object.

From ECMAScript 5, Section 8.6.2 Object Internal Properties and Methods:

The value of the [[Class]] internal property is defined by this specification for every kind of built-in object. The value of the [[Class]] internal property of a host object may be any String value except one of "Arguments", "Array", "Boolean", "Date", "Error", "Function", "JSON", "Math", "Number", "Object", "RegExp", and "String". The value of a [[Class]] internal property is used internally to distinguish different kinds of objects. Note that this specification does not provide any means for a program to access that value except through Object.prototype.toString (see 15.2.4.2).

A RegExp is a class of object defined in the spec at Section 15.10 RegExp(RegularExpression)Objects:

A RegExp object contains a regular expression and the associated flags.


Give the .constructor property a whirl:

> /^foo(bar)?$/i.constructorfunction RegExp() { [native code] }> /^foo(bar)?$/i.constructor.name"RegExp"> /^foo(bar)?$/i.constructor == RegExptrue