TypedArray.@@species

The TypedArray[@@species] accessor property returns the constructor of a typed array.

Syntax

TypedArray[Symbol.species]

where TypedArray is one of:

Int8Array
Uint8Array
Uint8ClampedArray
Int16Array
Uint16Array
Int32Array
Uint32Array
Float32Array
Float64Array

Description

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

Examples

The species property returns the default constructor function, which is one of the typed array constructors for a given typed array object:

Int8Array[Symbol.species];    // function Int8Array()
Uint8Array[Symbol.species];   // function Uint8Array()
Float32Array[Symbol.species]; // function Float32Array()

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

class MyTypedArray extends Uint8Array {
  // Overwrite MyTypedArray species to the parent Uint8Array constructor
  static get [Symbol.species]() { return Uint8Array; }
}

Specifications

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

Browser compatibility

See also

• TypedArray
• Symbol.species