Object.keys()

Summary

The Object.keys() method returns an array of a given object's own enumerable properties, in the same order as that provided by a for...in loop (the difference being that a for-in loop enumerates properties in the prototype chain as well).

Syntax

Object.keys(obj)

Parameters

obj

The object whose enumerable own properties are to be returned.

Description

Object.keys returns an array whose elements are strings corresponding to the enumerable properties found directly upon object. The ordering of the properties is the same as that given by looping over the properties of the object manually.

Examples

var arr = ["a", "b", "c"];
alert(Object.keys(arr)); // will alert "0,1,2"

// array like object
var obj = { 0 : "a", 1 : "b", 2 : "c"};
alert(Object.keys(obj)); // will alert "0,1,2"

// array like object with random key ordering
var an_obj = { 100: "a", 2: "b", 7: "c"};
alert(Object.keys(an_obj)); // will alert "2, 7, 100"

// getFoo is property which isn't enumerable
var my_obj = Object.create({}, { getFoo : { value : function () { return this.foo } } });
my_obj.foo = 1;

alert(Object.keys(my_obj)); // will alert only foo

If you want all properties, even not enumerables, see Object.getOwnPropertyNames.

Polyfill

To add compatible Object.keys support in older environments that do not natively support it, copy the following snippet:

// From https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/JavaScript/Reference/Global_Objects/Object/keys
if (!Object.keys) {
  Object.keys = (function () {
    'use strict';
    var hasOwnProperty = Object.prototype.hasOwnProperty,
        hasDontEnumBug = !({toString: null}).propertyIsEnumerable('toString'),
        dontEnums = [
          'toString',
          'toLocaleString',
          'valueOf',
          'hasOwnProperty',
          'isPrototypeOf',
          'propertyIsEnumerable',
          'constructor'
        ],
        dontEnumsLength = dontEnums.length;

    return function (obj) {
      if (typeof obj !== 'object' && (typeof obj !== 'function' || obj === null)) {
        throw new TypeError('Object.keys called on non-object');
      }

      var result = [], prop, i;

      for (prop in obj) {
        if (hasOwnProperty.call(obj, prop)) {
          result.push(prop);
        }
      }

      if (hasDontEnumBug) {
        for (i = 0; i < dontEnumsLength; i++) {
          if (hasOwnProperty.call(obj, dontEnums[i])) {
            result.push(dontEnums[i]);
          }
        }
      }
      return result;
    };
  }());
}

Please note that the above code includes non-enumerable keys in IE7 (and maybe IE8), when passing in an object from a different window.

For a simple browser polyfill, see Javascript - Object.keys Browser Compatibility.

Specifications

Browser compatibility

Based on Kangax's compat table.

See also

• Enumerability and ownership of properties
• Object.prototype.propertyIsEnumerable
• Object.create
• Object.getOwnPropertyNames