Function.length

The length property specifies the number of arguments expected by the function.

Description

length is a property of a function object, and indicates how many arguments the function expects, i.e. the number of formal parameters. This number excludes the rest parameter and only includes parameters before the first one with a default value. By contrast, arguments.length is local to a function and provides the number of arguments actually passed to the function.

Data property of the Function constructor

The Function constructor is itself a Function object. Its length data property has a value of 1. The property attributes are: Writable: false, Enumerable: false, Configurable: true.

Property of the Function prototype object

The length property of the Function prototype object has a value of 0.

Examples

console.log(Function.length); /* 1 */

console.log((function()        {}).length); /* 0 */
console.log((function(a)       {}).length); /* 1 */
console.log((function(a, b)    {}).length); /* 2 etc. */

console.log((function(...args) {}).length); 
// 0, rest parameter is not counted

console.log((function(a, b = 1, c) {}).length);
// 1, only parameters before the first one with 
// a default value is counted

Specifications

Specification	Status	Comment
ECMAScript 1st Edition (ECMA-262)	Standard	Initial definition. Implemented in JavaScript 1.1.
ECMAScript 5.1 (ECMA-262) The definition of 'Function.length' in that specification.	Standard
ECMAScript 2015 (6th Edition, ECMA-262) The definition of 'Function.length' in that specification.	Standard	The configurable attribute of this property is now true.
ECMAScript 2017 Draft (ECMA-262) The definition of 'Function.length' in that specification.	Draft

Browser compatibility

See also

• Function