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Description

Returns the primitive value of an object.

• Automatically invoked when an object is called and a primitive value is expected.
• The Object.valueOf() method is inherited by all Object descendants.
• Unless overridden by a custom object valueOf() returns [object Object].

Syntax

Parameters

None.

Examples

The code below creates an object and displays it.

// Create an object.
anObject = new Object();

alert(anObject.valueOf() + ' anObject is an instance of Object.');

Overriding The Object.valueOf() Method

As you can see when pressing the above button the default for valueOf() on an objectType of Object returns [object Object]. If you want something meaningful returned for your object, you need to override the Object.valueOf() method.

The code below creates a custom object type function and overrides the Object.valueOf() method. We then create and display a string primitive which will use our custom valueOf() method.

// Define a custom object type function.
function HomeOwner(firstName,lastName) {  
  this.firstName=firstName;  
  this.lastName=lastName;  
}  

// Define a custom override function for valueOf().
HomeOwner.prototype.valueOf = function HomeOwnervalueOf() {  
  var primValue = 'Home Owner';  
  return primValue;  
}

// Create and print a HomeOwner primitive.
owner = new HomeOwner('Barney','Magrew');  
alert(owner.valueOf());

Related Tutorials

JavaScript Basic Tutorials - Lesson 7 - Objects

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• parseFloat()     >>