Coding⏱️ 3 min read📅 2026-06-04

How to Fix: What is causing the error `string.split is not a function`?

Error occurs when trying to split a string using the / character, which is not a valid separator for strings in JavaScript.

Quick Answer: Use a different separator or parse the URL as an object instead of splitting it by '/'.

The error 'string.split is not a function' occurs when you attempt to split a string using the split() method, but the string does not contain the '/' character. This can happen when the variable holding the string value is not a string type.

This issue affects developers who work with JavaScript and are not aware of the importance of data types in their code. The error can also be caused by incorrect or outdated browser versions.

💡 Why You Are Getting This Error

  • The primary reason for this error is that document.location returns an HTMLDocument object, which does not have a split() method. The location property of an HTMLDocument object contains the URL of the current page, but it is not a string.
  • Another possible cause is that you are using an outdated browser version or a browser extension that modifies the behavior of the location property.

🔧 Proven Troubleshooting Steps

Checking and Setting the Correct Data Type

  1. Step 1: Check the data type of the variable holding the string value by adding the typeof operator. For example: var string = document.location; console.log(typeof string); This will output 'object'.
  2. Step 2: Since document.location returns an object, you need to access its properties using dot notation or bracket notation. Instead of using string.split('/'), use string.pathname.
  3. Step 3: Update your code to use the correct property: var split = string.pathname.split('/');

Using a Workaround with String Replace()

  1. Step 1: If you cannot modify the original code, you can use the replace() method to achieve the desired result. For example: var newString = string.replace('/', '\/').split('/');
  2. Step 2: However, this approach is not recommended as it may lead to unexpected results or security vulnerabilities.

💡 Conclusion

To resolve the error 'string.split is not a function', ensure that you are working with strings and use the correct data type. You can also consider using workarounds like string.replace() for specific cases, but these should be used with caution.

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