'console' is undefined error for Internet Explorer

Question

I\'m using Firebug and have some statements like:

console.log(\"...\");

in my page. In IE8 (probably earlier versions too) I get script err

Answer 1

In IE9, if console is not opened, this code:

alert(typeof console);

will show "object", but this code

alert(typeof console.log);

will throw TypeError exception, but not return undefined value;

So, guaranteed version of code will look similar to this:

try {
    if (window.console && window.console.log) {
        my_console_log = window.console.log;
    }
} catch (e) {
    my_console_log = function() {};
}

Answer 2

You can use console.log(...) directly in Firefox but not in IEs. In IEs you have to use window.console.

Answer 3

Sometimes console will work in IE8/9 but fail at other times. This erratic behaviour depends on whether you have developer tools open and is described in stackoverflow question Does IE9 support console.log, and is it a real function?