SyntaxError: missing ] after element list

The JavaScript exception "missing ] after element list" occurs when there is an error with the array initializer syntax somewhere. Likely there is a closing square bracket (]) or a comma (,) missing.

Message

SyntaxError: missing ] after element list (Firefox)
SyntaxError: Unexpected token ';'. Expected either a closing ']' or a ',' following an array element. (Safari)

Error type

SyntaxError.

What went wrong?

There is an error with the array initializer syntax somewhere. Likely there is a closing square bracket (]) or a comma (,) missing.

Examples

Incomplete array initializer

js
const list = [1, 2,

const instruments = [
  "Ukulele",
  "Guitar",
  "Piano",
};

const data = [{ foo: "bar" } { bar: "foo" }];

Correct would be:

js
const list = [1, 2];

const instruments = ["Ukulele", "Guitar", "Piano"];

const data = [{ foo: "bar" }, { bar: "foo" }];

See also