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doc: note about custom inspect functions #2142

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24 changes: 24 additions & 0 deletions doc/api/repl.markdown
Original file line number Diff line number Diff line change
Expand Up @@ -237,3 +237,27 @@ The following key combinations in the REPL have these special effects:
- `<ctrl>D` - Similar to the `.exit` keyword.
- `<tab>` - Show both global and local(scope) variables


### Customizing Object displays in the REPL

The REPL module internally uses
[util.inspect()][], when printing values. However, `util.inspect` delegates the
call to the object's `inspect()` function, if it has one. You can read more
about this delegation [here][].

For example, if you have defined an `inspect()` function on an object, like this:

> var obj = { foo: 'this will not show up in the inspect() output' };
undefined
> obj.inspect = function() {
... return { bar: 'baz' };
... };
[Function]

and try to print `obj` in REPL, it will invoke the custom `inspect()` function:

> obj
{ bar: 'baz' }

[util.inspect()]: util.html#util_util_inspect_object_options
[here]: util.html#util_custom_inspect_function_on_objects