How can I display a JavaScript object?

Question

How do I display the content of a JavaScript object in a string format like when we alert a variable?

The same formatted way I want to display an object.

Answer 1

Here's function.

function printObj(obj) {
console.log((function traverse(tab, obj) {
    let str = "";
    if(typeof obj !== 'object') {
        return obj + ',';
    }
    if(Array.isArray(obj)) {            
        return '[' + obj.map(o=>JSON.stringify(o)).join(',') + ']' + ',';
    }
    str = str + '{\n';
    for(var p in obj) {
        str = str + tab + ' ' + p + ' : ' + traverse(tab+' ', obj[p]) +'\n';
    }
    str = str.slice(0,-2) + str.slice(-1);                
    str = str + tab + '},';
    return str;
}('',obj).slice(0,-1)))};

It can show object using tab indent with readability.

Answer 2

Use this:

console.log('print object: ' + JSON.stringify(session));

Answer 3

I needed a way to recursively print the object, which pagewil's answer provided (Thanks!). I updated it a little bit to include a way to print up to a certain level, and to add spacing so that it is properly indented based on the current level that we are in so that it is more readable.

// Recursive print of object
var print = function( o, maxLevel, level ) {
    if ( typeof level == "undefined" ) {
        level = 0;
    }
    if ( typeof level == "undefined" ) {
        maxLevel = 0;
    }

    var str = '';
    // Remove this if you don't want the pre tag, but make sure to remove
    // the close pre tag on the bottom as well
    if ( level == 0 ) {
        str = '<pre>';
    }

    var levelStr = '';
    for ( var x = 0; x < level; x++ ) {
        levelStr += '    ';
    }

    if ( maxLevel != 0 && level >= maxLevel ) {
        str += levelStr + '...</br>';
        return str;
    }

    for ( var p in o ) {
        if ( typeof o[p] == 'string' ) {
            str += levelStr +
                p + ': ' + o[p] + ' </br>';
        } else {
            str += levelStr +
                p + ': { </br>' + print( o[p], maxLevel, level + 1 ) + levelStr + '}</br>';
        }
    }

    // Remove this if you don't want the pre tag, but make sure to remove
    // the open pre tag on the top as well
    if ( level == 0 ) {
        str += '</pre>';
    }
    return str;
};

Usage:

var pagewilsObject = {
    name: 'Wilson Page',
    contact: {
        email: '[e-mail]',
        tel: '123456789'
    }  
}

// Recursive of whole object
$('body').append( print(pagewilsObject) ); 

// Recursive of myObject up to 1 level, will only show name 
// and that there is a contact object
$('body').append( print(pagewilsObject, 1) ); 

Answer 4

In NodeJS you can print an object by using util.inspect(obj). Be sure to state the depth or you'll only have a shallow print of the object.

Answer 5

Function:

var print = function(o){
    var str='';

    for(var p in o){
        if(typeof o[p] == 'string'){
            str+= p + ': ' + o[p]+'; </br>';
        }else{
            str+= p + ': { </br>' + print(o[p]) + '}';
        }
    }

    return str;
}

Usage:

var myObject = {
    name: 'Wilson Page',
    contact: {
        email: '[e-mail]',
        tel: '123456789'
    }  
}

$('body').append( print(myObject) );

Example:

http://jsfiddle.net/WilsonPage/6eqMn/

Answer 6

If you would like to print the object of its full length, can use

console.log(require('util').inspect(obj, {showHidden: false, depth: null})

If you want to print the object by converting it to the string then

console.log(JSON.stringify(obj));