# Class checking: "instanceof"

## The instanceof operator

```javascript
// syntax
obj instanceof Class

// 返回布林值
class Rabbit {}
let rabbit = new Rabbit();

// is it an object of Rabbit class?
alert( rabbit instanceof Rabbit ); // true

// 也可以檢測建構函式
// instead of class
function Rabbit() {}

alert( new Rabbit() instanceof Rabbit ); // true

// 內建 class 也可以
let arr = [1, 2, 3];
alert( arr instanceof Array ); // true
alert( arr instanceof Object ); // true

// 自己設定 instanceof 
// setup instanceOf check that assumes that anything that canEat is an animal
class Animal {
  static [Symbol.hasInstance](obj) {
    if (obj.canEat) return true;
  }
}

let obj = { canEat: true };

alert(obj instanceof Animal); // true: Animal[Symbol.hasInstance](obj) is called

// 大多數 class 沒有 Symbol.hasInstance，因此會找物件原型鏈
obj.__proto__ === Class.prototype
obj.__proto__.__proto__ === Class.prototype
obj.__proto__.__proto__.__proto__ === Class.prototype
...

// example
class Animal {}
class Rabbit extends Animal {}

let rabbit = new Rabbit();
alert(rabbit instanceof Animal); // true
// rabbit.__proto__ === Rabbit.prototype
// rabbit.__proto__.__proto__ === Animal.prototype (match!)

// 原型被改變 instanceof 找不到 
function Rabbit() {}
let rabbit = new Rabbit();

// changed the prototype
Rabbit.prototype = {};

// ...not a rabbit any more!
alert( rabbit instanceof Rabbit ); // false
```

![](/files/-LhtwhEYpRklpa6pnl1c)

## Bonus: Object.prototype.toString for the type

```javascript
let obj = {};

alert(obj); // [object Object]
alert(obj.toString()); // the same

// 不同類型有不同結果
For a number, it will be [object Number]
For a boolean, it will be [object Boolean]
For null: [object Null]
For undefined: [object Undefined]
For arrays: [object Array]
…etc (customizable).

// example
// copy toString method into a variable for convenience
let objectToString = Object.prototype.toString;

// what type is this?
let arr = [];
let s = Object.prototype.toString;

alert( objectToString.call(arr) ); // [object Array]
alert( s.call(123) ); // [object Number]
alert( s.call(null) ); // [object Null]
alert( s.call(alert) ); // [object Function]

// Symbol.toStringTag 設定 toString 返回的值
let user = {
  [Symbol.toStringTag]: "User"
};

alert( {}.toString.call(user) ); // [object User]

// toStringTag for the environment-specific object and class:
alert( window[Symbol.toStringTag]); // window
alert( XMLHttpRequest.prototype[Symbol.toStringTag] ); // XMLHttpRequest

alert( {}.toString.call(window) ); // [object Window]
alert( {}.toString.call(new XMLHttpRequest()) ); // [object XMLHttpRequest]
```


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