typeof symbol (Was: Sept 19 TC39 Meeting Notes)

[Axel Rauschmayer]

> Axel Rauschmayer wrote:
>>> I agree with Tom, "object" is the best choice if we are to avoid extending typeof's codomain. If we choose to extend, then your best case made above arguess for "symbol", not "string".
>> 
>> I’ve been wondering: instead of fixing typeof, wouldn’t it be simpler to extend instanceof, by introducing new types:
>> 
>> - ReferenceType: to check whether a value is an object. Currently, objects such as Object.create(null) and Object.prototype are objects that are not instanceof Object.
> 
> This doesn't work with value objects, and anyway doesn't work by testing proto-chain membership starting from RHS.prototype where RHS is the constructor function.
> 
>> - ValueType: for primitives and possibly future value objects.
>>    - PrimitiveBoolean: for primitive booleans, same as typeof x === 'boolean'
> 
> Again, we cannot inserte more prototypes on existing proto-chains.
> 
>>    - etc.
>> 
>> Should there ever be guards in the future, instanceof MyGuard would also make sense.
> If you are not using the proto-chain, then what? What's the underlying theory for extending instanceof?

The idea would be to not use the proto chain (which would be odd for primitive values, anyway), to make these “pseudo-types” special.

> Compatibility concerns make this a non-starter, IMHO. We'd do better to keep instanceof simple and extend typeof. IE already has extra typeof results so developers have to beware.

Extending instanceof would result in something that is more consistent. It would allow less experienced programmers to ignore the difference between primitives and objects (which you *almost* can now in JavaScript, in stark contrast to, say, Java).

Axel

-- 
Dr. Axel Rauschmayer
axel at rauschma.de

home: rauschma.de
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