Function.arguments

Deprecated
This feature has been removed from the Web standards. Though some browsers may still support it, it is in the process of being dropped. Do not use it in old or new projects. Pages or Web apps using it may break at any time.

The function.arguments property refers to an an array-like object corresponding to the arguments passed to a function. Use the simple variable arguments instead.

Description

The syntax function.arguments is deprecated. The recommended way to access the arguments object available within functions is simply to refer to the variable arguments.

In the case of recursion, i.e. if function f appears several times on the call stack, the value of f.arguments represents the arguments corresponding to the most recent invocation of the function.

The value of the arguments property is normally null if there is no outstanding invocation of the function in progress (that is, the function has been called but has not yet returned.

Examples

function f(n) { g(n - 1); }

function g(n) {
  console.log('before: ' + g.arguments[0]);
  if (n > 0) { f(n); }
  console.log('after: ' + g.arguments[0]);
}

f(2);

console.log('returned: ' + g.arguments);

// Output

// before: 1
// before: 0
// after: 0
// after: 1
// returned: null

Specifications

Specification Status Comment
ECMAScript 1st Edition (ECMA-262) Standard Initial definition. Implemented in JavaScript 1.0. Deprecated in favor of arguments in ES3.
ECMAScript 5.1 (ECMA-262)
The definition of 'arguments object' in that specification.
Standard arguments object
ECMAScript 2015 (6th Edition, ECMA-262)
The definition of 'arguments object' in that specification.
Standard arguments object
ECMAScript 2017 Draft (ECMA-262)
The definition of 'arguments object' in that specification.
Draft arguments object

Browser compatibility

Feature Chrome Firefox (Gecko) Internet Explorer Opera Safari
Basic support (Yes) (Yes) (Yes) (Yes) (Yes)
Feature Android Chrome for Android Firefox Mobile (Gecko) IE Mobile Opera Mobile Safari Mobile
Basic support (Yes) (Yes) (Yes) (Yes) (Yes) (Yes)

See also

Document Tags and Contributors

 Contributors to this page: fscholz, ziyunfei, Mingun, surjikal, Sheppy, ethertank, evilpie, Mgjbot, Nickolay, Maian
 Last updated by: fscholz,