The toString()
method returns a string representing the regular expression.
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Syntax
regexObj.toString();
Return value
A string representing the given object.
Description
The RegExp
object overrides the toString()
method of the Object
object; it does not inherit Object.prototype.toString()
. For RegExp
objects, the toString()
method returns a string representation of the regular expression.
Examples
Using toString()
The following example displays the string value of a RegExp
object:
var myExp = new RegExp('a+b+c'); console.log(myExp.toString()); // logs '/a+b+c/' var foo = new RegExp('bar', 'g'); console.log(foo.toString()); // logs '/bar/g'
Empty regular expressions and escaping
Starting with ECMAScript 5, an empty regular expression returns the string "/(?:)/" and line terminators such as "\n" are escaped:
new RegExp().toString(); // "/(?:)/" new RegExp('\n').toString() === '/\n/'; // true, prior to ES5 new RegExp('\n').toString() === '/\\n/'; // true, starting with ES5
Specifications
Specification |
---|
ECMAScript (ECMA-262) The definition of 'RegExp.prototype.toString' in that specification. |
Browser compatibility
Desktop | Mobile | Server | |||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
toString | Chrome Full support 1 | Edge Full support 12 | Firefox Full support 1 | IE Full support 4 | Opera Full support 5 | Safari Full support 1 | WebView Android Full support 1 | Chrome Android Full support 18 | Firefox Android Full support 4 | Opera Android Full support 10.1 | Safari iOS Full support 1 | Samsung Internet Android Full support 1.0 | nodejs Full support Yes |
Escaping | Chrome Full support 73 | Edge Full support 12 | Firefox Full support 38 | IE Full support 9 | Opera Full support 60 | Safari Full support 6 | WebView Android Full support 73 | Chrome Android Full support 73 | Firefox Android Full support 38 | Opera Android Full support 52 | Safari iOS Full support 6 | Samsung Internet Android No support No | nodejs Full support Yes |
Legend
- Full support
- Full support
- No support
- No support