Troubleshooting 'Sp.Clientcontext.Get_Current' Errors

What is the SP.ClientContext.get_current Error?

The SP.ClientContext.get_current error occurs when attempting to retrieve the current client context in SharePoint. The client context contains essential information for communicating with the SharePoint server and allows you to query, add, update or delete items in SharePoint lists and libraries.

This error typically appears as “Unable to get property ‘get_current’ of undefined or null reference” or similar variations. It indicates there was a problem obtaining or using the SP.ClientContext object.

When Does This Error Occur?

There are several common situations where the SP.ClientContext.get_current error can appear:

Table of Contents

Using the ClientContext object on pages other than .aspx pages in SharePoint. The client context is only available on .aspx pages.
Calling the get_current method before the SP.js JavaScript library has loaded. Make sure the script file has loaded before attempting to get the context.
Forgetting to use Sod to load the SP.js file and ensuring dependent scripts load in the correct order.
An authentication or permission issue where the current user does not have access to the SharePoint resources.
Invalid references to the ClientContext from relocated or renamed objects.
Using the ClientContext object in an asynchronous callback without verifying and preserving the current context.

Fixing SP.ClientContext Authentication Issues

If you receive a access denied or similar permission-related error when calling SP.ClientContext.get_current, there likely is an authentication problem with the current user. Some solutions include:

Check if the user is authenticated and has appropriate permissions for the SharePoint resources in question. An anonymous or low-permission user can trigger access errors.
Verify the credentials and permissions for the application pool account used by the web site in IIS. It must have access to SharePoint to retrieve the client context successfully.
Disable anonymous authentication in the web site’s configuration and require Windows/forms authentication with valid credentials.
Use SPSecurity.RunWithElevatedPrivileges to execute code that uses the ClientContext with elevated permissions.

Checking for Invalid References

Another cause of SP.ClientContext.get_current errors is an invalid reference to the ClientContext object. Some ways to check for reference issues:

Verify scripts are not trying to get the current context too early before SP.js loads.
Check for incorrect capitalization like SP.clientContext vs SP.ClientContext.
Ensure the ClientContext is referenced from the global SP namespace. Window.ClientContext and non-global references can fail.
Check for renamed objects like _spPageContextInfo that were previously referenced but renamed after an update.

Verifying Page Context

The SP.ClientContext expects the SharePoint page context to be initialized properly for the current user. Some troubleshooting tips related to page context:

Ensure the master page has a reference to InitializeSP.js in the header to set up page context.
Check that SP.js is loaded and InitializeSP is called before attempting to get ClientContext.
Verify _spPageContextInfo exists to confirm page context is set. Missing info indicates a page setup problem.
Call EnsureScripts to confirm SP.js dependencies load before attempting to use ClientContext.

Example Code Snippets

Here is example JavaScript code for properly using SP.ClientContext in client-side code on SharePoint pages:

// Wait for page context and SP.js to initialize 
SP.SOD.executeFunc('sp.js', 'SP.ClientContext', sharePointReady);

// Function executes when sp.js has loaded
function sharePointReady() {

  // Gets properly initialized ClientContext 
  var context = SP.ClientContext.get_current();
  
  // Use ClientContext to query SharePoint list
  var list = context.get_web().get_lists().getByTitle('Announcements');
    
  // Additional ClientContext operations...
    
}

Key points:

Delay ClientContext usage until sp.js ready using SP.SOD.executeFunc.
Retrieve context inside sp.js callback to guarantee initialization.
Use get_current only after verifying script loading via SOD.

Additional Troubleshooting Tips

Some other helpful troubleshooting techniques for SP.ClientContext.get_current errors:

Check browser console for detailed error messages related to ClientContext issues.
Wrap ClientContext code in try/catch blocks to handle potential errors.
Use console logging to output values like _spPageContextInfo and ClientContext to diagnose problems.
Verify issue happens consistently across browsers. Browser differences can trigger obscure issues.
Try running code that uses ClientContext in SharePoint hosted workbench for simplified testing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does get_current fail sporadically or intermittently?

Inconsistent SP.ClientContext errors usually indicate a race condition loading scripts. Use SOD.executeFunc and callbacks to ensure proper sequence.

Can I use ClientContext outside of SharePoint pages?

No, ClientContext relies on SharePoint page context so can only be used in .aspx pages hosted under SharePoint sites.

Should I cache the context or call get_current each time?

Get the context each time you need it rather than caching to ensure you get the proper security context for the current user.

Why does an elevated privileges code block throw this error?

SPSecurity.RunWithElevatedPrivileges resets the client context so you must re-retrieve it using get_current inside the elevated block.

Troubleshooting ‘Sp.Clientcontext.Get_Current’ Errors