CODEWITHSUNDEEP
javascriptinternet-explorertostring
hguser
hguser

Reputation: 36068

toString does not work in IE

I have a class in javascript which define the toString method,however when I want to print it in the page,it always print [object object] in IE(6-8).

But it works in firefox or chrome(they all print 'kk' in the example below).

I wonder why?

This is the example code:

function Person(name){
  this.name=name;
}
Person.prototype.toString=function(){
  return this.name;
}
var p=new Person('kk');
document.getElementById('dis').innerHTML=p.toString();

What is the problem?

BTW,this is the code in my application:

function inherit(pro) {
    function F() {};
    F.prototype = pro;
    return new F();
}
var Class = function() {
    var clazz = null,
    pros = {}; // root of chain
    for (var i = 0; i < arguments.length; i++) {
        var arg = arguments[i];

        if (typeof arg === "function") {
            arg = arg.prototype;
        } else {
            if (arg.init) {
                clazz = arg.init;
                delete arg.init;
            }
            var o = arg;
            arg = (function() {
                function F() {};
                F.prototype = pros;
                return new F;
            })();
            for (var key in o) arg[key] = o[key];
        }

        pros = arg;
    }

    clazz.prototype = pros;
    return clazz;
};

var Person = Class({
    init: function(name) {
        this.name = name;
    },
    toString: function() {
        return this.name;
    }
});

function init() {
    var p = new Person('kk');
    document.getElementById('dis').innerHTML = p.toString();
}
window.onload = init;

Screen shot:

IE

Firefox

Upvotes: 4

Views: 6430

Answers (3)

aemonge
aemonge

Reputation: 2347

Actually you can! You just gotta move the toString outside

Person.prototype.toString = function() { return this.name; }

Further info check this other post

Issues with Object.toString in IE8, backbone.js

Upvotes: 0

Jason Young
Jason Young

Reputation: 71

Actually the comments above are not correct. Although you may not be able to override default prototype methods on elements, you CAN do it for your own types. The problem is that toString is not returned as a key in the code snippet:

for (var key in o) arg[key] = o[key];

if you add the following, things will work as expected:

if (o.toString !== Object.prototype.toString) {
   arg.toString = o.toString
}

Upvotes: 7

Naftali
Naftali

Reputation: 146330

Ok I see your issue now.

In all older version of IE (previous to 9) the javascript engine does not let you modify an element's prototype functions.

So the default toString() of an object is [object Object]

You might have to think of a different approach to your code for older versions of IE.

See article here: http://blog.motane.lu/2007/09/20/elementprototype-in-ie/

Final answer from comments below:

.toString is already a predefined function in the prototype of all objects, and it cannot be overridden in IE. Try using a different function name.

Upvotes: 1

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