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Why Typeof Null Is Object?

Sarah Jenkins • • 7 min read
Why Typeof Null Is Object?
In JavaScript, typeof null is 'object', which incorrectly suggests that null is an object (it isn't, it's a primitive value, consult my blog post on categorizing values for details). This is a bug and one that unfortunately can't be fixed, because it would break existing code. The data is a reference to an object.

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Considering this, why NULL is an object in JavaScript?

The type of null is an “object”, which indicates that it must be an object. But that's not true. In fact, null is one of the primitive values in JavaScript. This is actually a bug in the language and unfortunately can't be fixed that easily, because it will break existing codebase.

Also, is an object null? According to the Java spec, null is a type that can be assigned to an object variable (as a value as noted in the comment). You cannot instantiate or create variables of this type though, you must use the literal null provided by the compiler. Absolutely not: null instanceof Object returns false.

Thereof, is null an object in JS?

In JavaScript null is "nothing". It is supposed to be something that doesn't exist. Unfortunately, in JavaScript, the data type of null is an object. You can consider it a bug in JavaScript that typeof null is an object.

Why is Typeof NaN a number?

The type of NaN , which stands for Not a Number is, surprisingly, a number. The reason for this is, in computing, NaN is actually technically a numeric data type. However, it is a numeric data type whose value cannot be represented using actual numbers.

Related Question Answers

What is typeof null?

In JavaScript, typeof null is 'object', which incorrectly suggests that null is an object (it isn't, it's a primitive value, consult my blog post on categorizing values for details). This is a bug and one that unfortunately can't be fixed, because it would break existing code. The data is a reference to an object.

What is null in programming?

In computer programming, null is both a value and a pointer. Null is a built-in constant that has a value of zero. It is the same as the character 0 used to terminate strings in C. Null can also be the value of a pointer, which is the same as zero unless the CPU supports a special bit pattern for a null pointer.
Sarah Jenkins
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Sarah Jenkins

Sarah Jenkins is a veteran tech journalist with over 12 years of experience covering artificial intelligence, mobile innovations, and digital ethics. Her insights have appeared in leading technology publications worldwide.