instanceof Operator (JavaScript)

result

Required. Any variable.

object

Required. Any object expression.

class

Required. Any defined object class.

The instanceof operator returns true if object is an instance of class. It returns false if object is not an instance of class, or if object is null.

The following example shows how to use the instanceof operator.

function objTest(obj){
    var i, t, s = "";
    t = new Array();
    t["Date"] = Date;
    t["Object"] = Object;
    t["Array"] = Array;
        for (i in t){
            if (obj instanceof t[i]) { 
                s += "obj is an instance of " + i + "<br/>";
            }
            else {
                s += "obj is not an instance of " + i + "<br/>";
        }
    }
    return(s);
}

var obj = new Date();
document.write(objTest(obj));

// Output: 
// obj is an instance of Date
// obj is an instance of Object
// obj is not an instance of Array

Supported in the following document modes: Quirks, Internet Explorer 6 standards, Internet Explorer 7 standards, Internet Explorer 8 standards, Internet Explorer 9 standards, Internet Explorer 10 standards. Also supported in Windows Store apps. See Version Information.

Concepts