Why console.table prints (with toString) only limited elements at depth level 2

Question

The output of following js script doesn't print toString() version of object if it has more than 2 elements.

let printMe_1 = [{
    "A": "a",
    "F": {
        "J": "j",
        "K": "k",
        "L" : "l"
    },
    "G": {
        "J": "j",
        "K": "k",
    }
}]

console.table(printMe_1);

Console output:

And here is the reference to documentation: https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/API/Console/table

Funny enough in reviewing the specifications for this it looks like there are none. `TODO: This will need a good algorithm.` https://console.spec.whatwg.org/#table Mozilla doesn't define behavior for this either https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/API/Console/table so seems its just up to the browser implementation currently. — asawyer, Oct 02 '20 at 20:33
You could try `JSON.stringify()` or [`console.dir` with depth option](https://stackoverflow.com/questions/10729276/how-can-i-get-the-full-object-in-node-jss-console-log-rather-than-object) — SNag, Oct 02 '20 at 20:36
@asawyer exactly! I did look up for it too! I didn't add it in my question because I hope some one is better than me at googling :) — Maas, Oct 02 '20 at 20:38
@SNag yes I did, but it does give the table output and stringfy() makes me loose the dynamic nature of object — Maas, Oct 02 '20 at 20:40

score 0 · Answer 1 · answered Oct 02 '20 at 20:52

Your code works fine in Firefox 81.0 browser console. All levels of F show up.

In Chrome 85.0 and in Edge Chromium 85.0 the table doesn't list the entries but the object gets printed separately anyway.

Node 14.5 doesn't print it, as you've rightfully captured.

As per @asawyer's comment it seems this is left to the browser's/Node's implementation.

Alternatively, you can try JSON.stringify() or console.dir with depth option.

Why console.table prints (with toString) only limited elements at depth level 2

1 Answers1