Detect Generator Functions with JavaScript

By  on  

In the current JavaScript climate of new syntaxes, features, and using loads of external libraries, it seems harder than ever to be sure what your functions are being given or even what the data represents. Of course, we've come up with Flow and TypeScript to help, but we can't count on those always being available. That's why I like doing my own detection with JavaScript, especially when it comes to function types.

To detect if a function is a generator or async generator function, you can use the following code:

// Sample generator function
function* sampleGenerator() {}
sampleGenerator.constructor.name
// "GeneratorFunction"

async function* sampleGenerator() {}
sampleGenerator.constructor.name
// "AsyncGeneratorFunction"

Coincidentally, you can also detect a regular async function with:

async function asyncThing() {}
asyncThing.constructor.name
// "AsyncFunction"

It's always important to know if the code you're using is sync, async, or a generator, but if you're using external libraries or want to write comprehensive tests, these types of detections may be necessary.

Recent Features

  • By
    Conquering Impostor Syndrome

    Two years ago I documented my struggles with Imposter Syndrome and the response was immense.  I received messages of support and commiseration from new web developers, veteran engineers, and even persons of all experience levels in other professions.  I've even caught myself reading the post...

  • By
    LightFace:  Facebook Lightbox for MooTools

    One of the web components I've always loved has been Facebook's modal dialog.  This "lightbox" isn't like others:  no dark overlay, no obnoxious animating to size, and it doesn't try to do "too much."  With Facebook's dialog in mind, I've created LightFace:  a Facebook lightbox...

Incredible Demos

  • By
    HTML5 download Attribute

    I tend to get caught up on the JavaScript side of the HTML5 revolution, and can you blame me?  HTML5 gives us awesome "big" stuff like WebSockets, Web Workers, History, Storage and little helpers like the Element classList collection.  There are, however, smaller features in...

  • By
    Image Manipulation with PHP and the GD Library

    Yeah, I'm a Photoshop wizard. I rock the selection tool. I crop like a farmer. I dominate the bucket tool. Hell, I even went as far as wielding the wizard wand selection tool once. ...OK I'm rubbish when it comes to Photoshop.

Discussion

    Wrap your code in <pre class="{language}"></pre> tags, link to a GitHub gist, JSFiddle fiddle, or CodePen pen to embed!