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JavaScript troubleshooting tools in Internet Explorer

I make heavy use of Firebug and the Mozilla JS console, but from time to time I encounter a JavaScript error only for IE, which is really hard to detect (for example: error in line 724 when the source HTML has only 200 lines).

I would like to have a lightweight JS tool (a la firebug) for Internet Explorer, which I can install in seconds on the client PC if I get an error and then uninstall. Some Microsoft tools take a long time to download and configure.

Any ideas?

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javascript debugging internet-explorer
Aug 6 '08 at 13:56
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7 answers

You can find Firebug Lite for this.

Its bookmarklet should be especially useful when debugging on a user machine.

+26
Aug 6 '08 at 13:59
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Starting with Internet Explorer 8, IE comes with a pretty impressive set of tools for debugging, profiling, etc. Javascript Like most other browsers, developer tools are available by pressing F12 on the keyboard.

Script Tab

The Script tab is likely to interest you, although the Console, Profiler, and Network tabs will also come in handy when debugging applications.

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On the Script tab, you can:

  • JavaScript format to make it more readable
  • Go from source to source of various resources on the page
  • Insert breakpoints
  • Moving between lines of code and executing it
  • Observe the variables
  • Check the call stack to see how the code executes
  • Toggle Breakpoints
  • and much more...

console tab

The Console tab is great when you need to execute some arbitrary code for the application. I use this to check for the return of certain methods, or even to quickly test solutions for stack overflow responses.

enter image description here

Profile Tab

The profile is amazing if you are looking for lengthy processes or trying to optimize your code to provide smoother mode or reduce the number of calls for resource-intensive methods. Open any page and click "Start profiling" on the "Profiler" tab to start recording.

While the profiler is working, you can navigate the page by performing common actions. When you feel that you have been recorded enough, click Stop Profiling. Then you will be shown a summary of all running functions or the call tree. You can quickly sort data by various columns:

enter image description here

Network Tab

The "Network" tab will record traffic on your website / application. This is very convenient for finding files that do not load, do not hang, or for tracking data that is requested asynchronously.

Inside this tab, you can also navigate between the summary view and the detailed view. In the "Details" window, you can check the headers sent with requests and answers. You can view information about cookies, check the time of events and much more.

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In fact, I do not do justice to IE developers - there is a lot of uncovered land. I would recommend that you test them, and make them part of your development.

+18
May 15 '12 at 21:16
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I would recommend Companion JS .

This is a free version of Debug Bar , but it’s easier for me to use it and have the functions I need. Great to check out some JavaScript snippets in IE just like with Firebug in Firefox.

EDIT 5 years later : I now use the integrated developer tools of Internet Explorer.

+5
Aug 11 '08 at 16:56
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IE 8 should have better tools, but the IE Developer toolbar is pretty good.

+4
Aug 6 '08 at 13:58
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I am using Microsoft Script Debugger and FireBug Lite , depending on what I am debugging. Both are great tools - try both with whatever you are comfortable with.

+3
Oct 12 2018-11-12T00:
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In IE8, just press F12!

+2
Feb 15 '10 at 16:53
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  • Go to Tools-> Internet Options ... → Advanced-> Enable Script Debugging (Internet Explorer)

then attach the Visual Studio debugger when an error occurs.

If you are using IE 8, install the developer toolbar as it has a built-in debugger.

+1
Jan 16 '13 at 0:32
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