Why does my try-catch block not catch a TypeError when accessing a property on an undefined object in JavaScript?

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Why does my try-catch block not catch a TypeError when accessing a property on an undefined object in JavaScript?

Asked on Dec 21, 2025

Answer

In JavaScript, a try-catch block is used to handle exceptions, including TypeErrors. If your try-catch block is not catching a TypeError, it might be due to the error occurring outside the block. Ensure that the code that might throw the error is inside the try block. Here's a simple example demonstrating how to catch a TypeError when accessing a property on an undefined object:

<!-- BEGIN COPY / PASTE -->
        try {
            let obj;
            console.log(obj.property); // This will throw a TypeError
        } catch (error) {
            console.error("Caught an error:", error.message);
        }
        <!-- END COPY / PASTE -->

Additional Comment:

The try block contains code that may throw an error (accessing a property on an undefined object).
The catch block captures the error, allowing you to handle it (e.g., logging the error message).
Ensure the code that might throw an error is inside the try block for it to be caught.

✅ Answered with JavaScript best practices.

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Why does my try-catch block not catch a TypeError when accessing a property on an undefined object in JavaScript?

Asked on Dec 21, 2025

Answer

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