Iterator.prototype[Symbol.iterator]()

The [Symbol.iterator]() method of Iterator instances implements the iterable protocol and allows built-in iterators to be consumed by most syntaxes expecting iterables, such as the spread syntax and for...of loops. It returns the value of this, which is the iterator object itself.

Syntax

js
iterator[Symbol.iterator]()

Parameters

None.

Return value

The value of this, which is the iterator object itself.

Examples

Iteration using for...of loop

Note that you seldom need to call this method directly. The existence of the [Symbol.iterator]() method makes built-in iterators iterable, and iterating syntaxes like the for...of loop automatically call this method to obtain the iterator to loop over.

js
const arrIterator = [1, 2, 3].values();
for (const value of arrIterator) {
  console.log(value);
}
// Logs: 1, 2, 3

Specifications

Specification
ECMAScript Language Specification
# sec-%iteratorprototype%-%symbol.iterator%

Browser compatibility

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See also