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object.isPrototypeOf

The isPrototypeOf() method checks if an object exists in another object's prototype chain.

isPrototypeOf() differs from the instanceof operator. In the expression "object instanceof AFunction", the object prototype chain is checked against AFunction.prototype, not against AFunction itself.

Syntax

prototypeObj.isPrototypeOf(object)

Parameters

object
The object whose prototype chain will be searched.

Return value

A Boolean indicating whether the calling object lies in the prototype chain of the specified object.

Errors thrown

TypeError
A TypeError is thrown if prototypeObj is undefined or null.

Description

The isPrototypeOf() method allows you to check whether or not an object exists within another object's prototype chain.

Examples

This example demonstrates that Baz.prototype, Bar.prototype, Foo.prototype and Object.prototype exist in the prototype chain for object baz:

function Foo() {}
function Bar() {}
function Baz() {}

Bar.prototype = Object.create(Foo.prototype);
Baz.prototype = Object.create(Bar.prototype);

var baz = new Baz();

console.log(Baz.prototype.isPrototypeOf(baz)); // true
console.log(Bar.prototype.isPrototypeOf(baz)); // true
console.log(Foo.prototype.isPrototypeOf(baz)); // true
console.log(Object.prototype.isPrototypeOf(baz)); // true

isPrototypeOf() method, along with the instanceof operator particularly comes in handy if you have code that can only function when dealing with objects descended from a specific prototype chain, e.g., to guarantee that certain methods or properties will be present on that object.

For example, check if baz object descends from Foo.prototype:

if (Foo.prototype.isPrototypeOf(baz)) {
  // do something safe
}

Specifications

Browser compatibilityUpdate compatibility data on GitHub

Desktop
Chrome Edge Firefox Internet Explorer Opera Safari
Basic support Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Mobile
Android webview Chrome for Android Edge Mobile Firefox for Android Opera for Android iOS Safari Samsung Internet
Basic support Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Server
Node.js
Basic support Yes

See also

© 2005–2018 Mozilla Developer Network and individual contributors.
Licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License v2.5 or later.
https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/JavaScript/Reference/Global_Objects/Object/isPrototypeOf