add [[ErrorData]] slot to DOMExceptions

[ljharb]

This is an attempt to fix tc39/proposal-is-error#9.

The intention is to make DOM Exceptions true subclasses of Error.

It's possible this PR needs additional changes to simplify/undo #732 - I'm happy to make whatever changes are appropriate.

• At least two implementers are interested (and none opposed):
  • …
  • …
• Tests are written and can be reviewed and commented upon at:
  • …
• Implementation bugs are filed:
  • Chromium: …
  • Gecko: …
  • WebKit: …
  • Deno: …
  • Node.js: …
  • webidl2.js: …
  • widlparser: …
• MDN issue is filed: …
• The top of this comment includes a clear commit message to use.

This is part of a stage 2 TC39 proposal for Error.isError. When it advances to stage 2.7, I'll file the appropriate implementation bugs.

---

Preview | Diff

[ljharb]

ping @domenic @annevk, this proposal is on the agenda for advancement next plenary, and i'd love to know that this direction is acceptable :-)

[domenic]

Seems fine directionally. In general we want DOMException to behave as if its constructor had a super() call and I think this aligns with that.

Editorially I wonder if putting it as a step in https://webidl.spec.whatwg.org/#internally-create-a-new-object-implementing-the-interface would be better. (E.g. modifying step 4.)

I also don't understand the relationship to #732 (serializability).

[ljharb]

How would you suggest I modify step 4?

The relationship to #732, as I understand it (but may indeed understand incorrectly) is that that PR was only necessary because DOMExceptions aren't proper Errors - but by making them proper Errors, then serialization of DOMExceptions should be automatic now?

[domenic]

How would you suggest I modify step 4?

By adding [[ErrorData]] to the argument list of MakeBasicObject, if the inclusive inherited interfaces of interface includes DOMException.

but by making them proper Errors, then serialization of DOMExceptions should be automatic now?

No, it's not automatic, and it should not be.

The relevant step is step 17 of https://html.spec.whatwg.org/#structuredserializeinternal. Thankfully, it's guarded by "and value is not a platform object", which means DOMException will properly go down to step 19 instead.

If we took the generic step 17 path for DOMException, we would lose the name information, and would look at the public message property instead of the internal message.

[ljharb]

ah, gotcha. ok cool, i'll make those changes to step 4, thanks!

[ljharb]

hmm - looking at the MakeBasicObject call, that seems like it's for all platform objects, not just DOMExceptions. Would something in https://webidl.spec.whatwg.org/#js-creating-throwing-exceptions make more sense?

If the MakeBasicObject call is correct, then how would I modify that to only add the slot for DOMExceptions and not for other things?

[annevk]

I'd put the list passed to MakeBasicObject in a variable and then conditionally append [[ErrorData]] to it.

[ljharb]

Thanks, updated! I left the original note I added as informative, but can remove it if preferred.