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TypeError: can't set prototype: it would cause a prototype chain cycle

The JavaScript exception "TypeError: can't set prototype: it would cause a prototype chain cycle" occurs when an object's prototype is set to an object such that the prototype chain becomes circular (a and b both have each other in their prototype chains).

In this article

Message

TypeError: Cyclic __proto__ value (V8-based) TypeError: can't set prototype: it would cause a prototype chain cycle (Firefox) TypeError: cyclic __proto__ value (Safari)

Error type

TypeError

What went wrong?

A loop, also called a cycle, was introduced in a prototype chain. That means that when walking this prototype chain, the same place would be accessed over and over again, instead of eventually reaching null.

This error is thrown at the time of setting the prototype. In an operation like Object.setPrototypeOf(a, b), if a already exists in the prototype chain of b, this error will be thrown.

Examples

js
const a = {}; Object.setPrototypeOf(a, a); // TypeError: can't set prototype: it would cause a prototype chain cycle
js
const a = {}; const b = {}; const c = {}; Object.setPrototypeOf(a, b); Object.setPrototypeOf(b, c); Object.setPrototypeOf(c, a); // TypeError: can't set prototype: it would cause a prototype chain cycle

See also

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  1. JavaScript
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  3. JavaScript Guide
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  4. Intermediate
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  5. Advanced
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  6. References
  7. Built-in objects
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  13. Errors
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    31. SyntaxError: character class escape cannot be used in class range in regular expression
    32. SyntaxError: continue must be inside loop
    33. SyntaxError: duplicate capture group name in regular expression
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    36. SyntaxError: function statement requires a name
    37. SyntaxError: functions cannot be labelled
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    39. SyntaxError: getter functions must have no arguments
    40. SyntaxError: identifier starts immediately after numeric literal
    41. SyntaxError: illegal character
    42. SyntaxError: import declarations may only appear at top level of a module
    43. SyntaxError: incomplete quantifier in regular expression
    44. SyntaxError: invalid assignment left-hand side
    45. SyntaxError: invalid BigInt syntax
    46. SyntaxError: invalid capture group name in regular expression
    47. SyntaxError: invalid character in class in regular expression
    48. SyntaxError: invalid class set operation in regular expression
    49. SyntaxError: invalid decimal escape in regular expression
    50. SyntaxError: invalid identity escape in regular expression
    51. SyntaxError: invalid named capture reference in regular expression
    52. SyntaxError: invalid property name in regular expression
    53. SyntaxError: invalid range in character class
    54. SyntaxError: invalid regexp group
    55. SyntaxError: invalid regular expression flag "x"
    56. SyntaxError: invalid unicode escape in regular expression
    57. SyntaxError: JSON.parse: bad parsing
    58. SyntaxError: label not found
    59. SyntaxError: missing : after property id
    60. SyntaxError: missing ) after argument list
    61. SyntaxError: missing ) after condition
    62. SyntaxError: missing ] after element list
    63. SyntaxError: missing } after function body
    64. SyntaxError: missing } after property list
    65. SyntaxError: missing = in const declaration
    66. SyntaxError: missing formal parameter
    67. SyntaxError: missing name after . operator
    68. SyntaxError: missing variable name
    69. SyntaxError: negated character class with strings in regular expression
    70. SyntaxError: new keyword cannot be used with an optional chain
    71. SyntaxError: nothing to repeat
    72. SyntaxError: numbers out of order in {} quantifier.
    73. SyntaxError: octal escape sequences can't be used in untagged template literals or in strict mode code
    74. SyntaxError: parameter after rest parameter
    75. SyntaxError: private fields can't be deleted
    76. SyntaxError: property name __proto__ appears more than once in object literal
    77. SyntaxError: raw bracket is not allowed in regular expression with unicode flag
    78. SyntaxError: redeclaration of formal parameter "x"
    79. SyntaxError: reference to undeclared private field or method #x
    80. SyntaxError: rest parameter may not have a default
    81. SyntaxError: return not in function
    82. SyntaxError: setter functions must have one argument
    83. SyntaxError: string literal contains an unescaped line break
    84. SyntaxError: super() is only valid in derived class constructors
    85. SyntaxError: tagged template cannot be used with optional chain
    86. SyntaxError: Unexpected '#' used outside of class body
    87. SyntaxError: Unexpected token
    88. SyntaxError: unlabeled break must be inside loop or switch
    89. SyntaxError: unparenthesized unary expression can't appear on the left-hand side of '**'
    90. SyntaxError: use of super property/member accesses only valid within methods or eval code within methods
    91. SyntaxError: Using //@ to indicate sourceURL pragmas is deprecated. Use //# instead
    92. TypeError: 'caller', 'callee', and 'arguments' properties may not be accessed
    93. TypeError: 'x' is not iterable
    94. TypeError: "x" is (not) "y"
    95. TypeError: "x" is not a constructor
    96. TypeError: "x" is not a function
    97. TypeError: "x" is not a non-null object
    98. TypeError: "x" is read-only
    99. TypeError: already executing generator
    100. TypeError: BigInt value can't be serialized in JSON
    101. TypeError: calling a builtin X constructor without new is forbidden
    102. TypeError: can't access/set private field or method: object is not the right class
    103. TypeError: can't assign to property "x" on "y": not an object
    104. TypeError: can't convert BigInt to number
    105. TypeError: can't convert x to BigInt
    106. TypeError: can't define property "x": "obj" is not extensible
    107. TypeError: can't delete non-configurable array element
    108. TypeError: can't redefine non-configurable property "x"
    109. TypeError: can't set prototype of this object
    110. TypeError: can't set prototype: it would cause a prototype chain cycle
    111. TypeError: cannot use 'in' operator to search for 'x' in 'y'
    112. TypeError: class constructors must be invoked with 'new'
    113. TypeError: cyclic object value
    114. TypeError: derived class constructor returned invalid value x
    115. TypeError: getting private setter-only property
    116. TypeError: Initializing an object twice is an error with private fields/methods
    117. TypeError: invalid 'instanceof' operand 'x'
    118. TypeError: invalid Array.prototype.sort argument
    119. TypeError: invalid assignment to const "x"
    120. TypeError: Iterator/AsyncIterator constructor can't be used directly
    121. TypeError: matchAll/replaceAll must be called with a global RegExp
    122. TypeError: More arguments needed
    123. TypeError: null/undefined has no properties
    124. TypeError: property "x" is non-configurable and can't be deleted
    125. TypeError: Reduce of empty array with no initial value
    126. TypeError: setting getter-only property "x"
    127. TypeError: WeakSet key/WeakMap value 'x' must be an object or an unregistered symbol
    128. TypeError: X.prototype.y called on incompatible type
    129. URIError: malformed URI sequence
    130. Warning: -file- is being assigned a //# sourceMappingURL, but already has one
    131. Warning: unreachable code after return statement
  14. Misc
    1. JavaScript technologies overview
    2. Execution model
    3. Lexical grammar
    4. Iteration protocols
    5. Strict mode
    6. Template literals
    7. Trailing commas
    8. Deprecated features

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