---
title: TextDecoder.fatal
slug: Web/API/TextDecoder/fatal
tags:
  - API
  - TextDecoder
  - fatal
  - Property
  - Reference
browser-compat: api.TextDecoder.fatal
---
{{DefaultAPISidebar("")}}

The **`fatal`** property of the {{domxref("TextDecoder")}} interface is a {{jsxref('Boolean')}} indicating whether the error mode is fatal.
If this value is `true`, the processed text cannot be decoded because of malformed data.
If this value is `false` malformed data is replaced with placeholder characters.

## Specifications

{{Specifications}}

## Browser compatibility

{{Compat}}
