How to Check if a Value is an Object in JavaScript

Check if a Value is an Object in JavaScript #

To check if a value is an object:

1. Verify the value has a type of object - typeof variable === 'object'.
2. Verify the value is not null - variable !== null.
3. Verify the value is not an array - !Array.isArray(variable).
4. If all conditions pass, the value is an object.

Copied!
function isObject(value) {
  return (
    typeof value === 'object' &&
    value !== null &&
    !Array.isArray(value)
  );
}

const variable = {name: 'bobby hadz'};

if (isObject(variable)) {
  // 👇️ this runs
  console.log('✅ Value is an object');
} else {
  console.log('⛔️ Value is not an object');
}

The isObject() function takes a value as a parameter and returns true if the value is an object and false otherwise.

Copied!
function isObject(value) {
  return (
    typeof value === 'object' &&
    value !== null &&
    !Array.isArray(value)
  );
}

console.log(isObject({})); // 👉️ true
console.log(isObject([])); // 👉️ false
console.log(isObject('bobbyhadz.com')); // 👉️ false

We used the logical AND (&&) operator to chain 3 conditions in a single if statement.

The first condition uses the typeof operator to check if a value has a type of "object".

The typeof operator returns a string that indicates the type of a value.

Here are some examples.

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console.log(typeof {}); // 👉️ "object"
console.log(typeof []); // 👉️ "object"
console.log(typeof null); // 👉️ "object"
console.log(typeof function () {}); // 👉️ "function"
console.log(typeof (() => {})); // 👉️ "function"
console.log(typeof ''); // 👉️ "string"
console.log(typeof 0); // 👉️ "number"

Notice that an array and a null value also have a type of "object".

To make sure the value doesn't store an array or null, we have to add 2 additional checks.

Our second condition checks that the value is not equal to null.

Copied!
const variable = {name: 'bobby hadz'};

if (
  typeof variable === 'object' &&
  variable !== null &&
  !Array.isArray(variable)
) {
  // 👇️ this runs
  console.log('✅ Value is an object');
} else {
  console.log('⛔️ Value is not an object');
}

And the third condition checks that the value is not an array.

If all of the conditions are met, the value is an object.

All of the following 3 values have a type of object:

• an object literal {}
• an array []
• a null value

Check if a Value is an Object using Object.prototype.toString() #

An alternative approach is to use the prototype property on the Object type.

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// 👇️ true
console.log(Object.prototype.toString.call({}) === '[object Object]');

// 👇️ false
console.log(Object.prototype.toString.call([]) === '[object Object]');

// 👇️ false
console.log(Object.prototype.toString.call(null) === '[object Object]');

We called to toString() method on the prototype, passing it an object, an array and null.

The names of all 3 are different when stringified:

Copied!
// 👇️️ "[object Object]"
console.log(Object.prototype.toString.call({}));

// 👇️ "[object Array]"
console.log(Object.prototype.toString.call([]));

// ️👇️ "[object Null]"
console.log(Object.prototype.toString.call(null));

This makes it a viable solution because we don't have to chain 3 conditions to get the result.

However, I still prefer the first approach because it is more readable and intuitive.

You can also define a reusable function.

Copied!
function isObject(value) {
  return Object.prototype.toString.call(value) === '[object Object]';
}

if (isObject({name: 'bobby hadz'})) {
  // 👇️ this runs
  console.log('The value is an object');
} else {
  console.log('The value is not an object');
}

console.log(isObject({})); // 👉️ true
console.log(isObject([])); // 👉️ false
console.log(isObject(null)); // 👉️ false
console.log(isObject('bobbyhadz.com')); // 👉️ false

It's best to avoid hardcoded strings like [object Object] because they leak implementation details, they are prone to errors and are difficult to debug.

Don't use the instanceof operator to check if a value is an object #

You shouldn't use the instanceof operator to check if a value is an object.

Here are some examples.

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console.log({} instanceof Object); // 👉️ true
console.log(Object.create(null) instanceof Object); // 👉️ false
console.log(null instanceof Object); // 👉️ false
console.log([] instanceof Object); // 👉️ true
console.log('hello' instanceof Object); // 👉️ false
console.log(new Date() instanceof Object); // 👉️ true

The instanceof operator doesn't work for objects created using the Object.create() method.

The operator also returns true for arrays.

The behavior of the instanceof operator is confusing when checking if a value is an object and should be avoided.

Don't use the lodash.isObject method to check if a value is an object #

The lodash.isObject method checks if a value is of type Object.

The method returns true for arrays, functions, objects, regexes, etc.

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import _ from 'lodash';

console.log(_.isObject({})); // 👉️ true
console.log(_.isObject([1, 2, 3])); // 👉️ true
console.log(_.isObject(null)); // 👉️ false
console.log(_.isObject(new Date())); // 👉️ true

This approach doesn't work if you need to check if a value is an object literal.

The only reliable way to check if a value is an object is to check that:

1. The value has a type of "object".
2. The value is not null.
3. The value is not an array.

Copied!
function isObject(value) {
  return (
    typeof value === 'object' &&
    value !== null &&
    !Array.isArray(value)
  );
}

console.log(isObject({})) // 👉️ true
console.log(isObject([])) // 👉️ false
console.log(isObject(null)) // 👉️ false
console.log(isObject('bobbyhadz.com')) // 👉️ false

If all 3 conditions are met, then the value is an object.

You can define a reusable function like the one above and place it in your utils.js file.

If you have to check if a value is an object literal, import the function and call it.

The function returns true if the value is an object and false otherwise.