How to check if a variable is a string in JavaScript

published: 05 May 2022

2 min read

How to check if a variable is a string in JavaScript

To check if a variable is a string in JavaScript, use the typeof operator, e.g. typeof a === 'string'. If the typeof operator returns 'string', then the variable is a string. For all other values, the variable is not a string.

let name = 'Atta'

if (typeof name === 'string') {
  console.log('Variable is a string')
} else {
  console.log('Variable is NOT a string')
}

// Output => Variable is a string

In the above example, we used the typeof operator to check if a variable is a string.

The typeof operator returns a string indicating the type of the given value. Here are a few more examples:

console.log(typeof 'john')          // 'string'
console.log(typeof '4')             // 'string'
console.log(typeof true)            // 'boolean'
console.log(typeof [])              // 'object'
console.log(typeof {})              // 'object'
console.log(typeof 5)               // 'number'
console.log(typeof null)            // 'object'
console.log(typeof (() => {}))      // 'function'

Unlike the other operators, the typeof operator does not throw a ReferenceError exception when used with a variable that is not declared:

if (typeof price === 'string') {
  console.log('Variable is a string')
} else {
  console.log('Variable is NOT a string')
}

// Output => Variable is NOT a string

How to check if a variable is a string in JavaScript | Coding Tips And Tricks

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