RegExp.@@species

The RegExp[@@species] accessor property returns the RegExp constructor.

Syntax

RegExp[Symbol.species]

Description

The species accessor property returns the default constructor for RegExp objects. Subclass constructors may over-ride it to change the constructor assignment.

Examples

The species property returns the default constructor function, which is the RegExp constructor for RegExp objects:

RegExp[Symbol.species]; // function RegExp()

In a derived collection object (e.g. your custom regexp MyRegExp), the MyRegExp species is the MyRegExp constructor. However, you might want to overwrite this, in order to return parent RegExp objects in your derived class methods:

class MyRegExp extends RegExp {
  // Overwrite MyRegExp species to the parent RegExp constructor
  static get [Symbol.species]() { return RegExp; }
}

Specifications

Specification	Status	Comment
ECMAScript 2015 (6th Edition, ECMA-262) The definition of 'get RegExp [ @@species ]' in that specification.	Standard	Initial definition.
ECMAScript 2017 Draft (ECMA-262) The definition of 'get RegExp [ @@species ]' in that specification.	Draft

Browser compatibility

See also

• RegExp
• Symbol.species