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JavaScript

Posted by Yan Kozlovskiy
Yan Kozlovskiy
30,427 Points

Why do we use prototypes in JavaScript?

I would like to know why we use prototypes. I understand that each time we create a new instance of a function, it'll create new space in memory. Are all elements attached to this prototype object? Why and when should we use something.prototype.somethingelse?

2 Answers

Steven Parker
Steven Parker
231,275 Points
Steven Parker
Steven Parker
231,275 Points

Basically, prototypes are a way of establishing properties and methods that will be inherited, or adding new properties and methods to an existing object or set of objects of a given type.

Now I realize that probably isn't much help in itself, but I found this article and discussion thread: JavaScript Prototype in Plain Language over at JavaScriptIsSexy.com that might be more enlightening.

jason chan
jason chan
31,009 Points
jason chan
jason chan
31,009 Points

We use prototypes for inheritance.

Since javascript isn't a formal object oriented language. That's how we do inheritance. 

function Person(first, last) {
  console.log(this);
this.firstname = first;
  this.lastname = last;
  console.log("This function is invoked.");

}
// inheriting from Person constructor to create a new method getFullName
Person.prototype.getFullName = function() {
 return this.firstname + ' ' + this.lastname; 
}

var john = new Person('john', 'doe');
console.log(john.getFullName());

var jane = new Person('jane', 'doe');

Person.prototype.getFormalFullName = function(){
return this.lastname + ', ' + this.firstname; 
}
console.log(john.getFormalFullName());

https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/JavaScript/Inheritance_and_the_prototype_chain

// emca2015 you have to use babel to compile this to javascript. This more traditional way create classes and inheritance. This also is similar to typescript

"use strict";

// we create a class here a blue print using the keyword constructor and class
class Polygon {
  constructor(height, width) {
    this.height = height;
    this.width = width;
  }
}

// we extend or inherit from Polygon with new methods. Basically we just adding new functions to Polygon, but we creating a new object called Square.
class Square extends Polygon {
  constructor(sideLength) {
    super(sideLength, sideLength);
  }
  get area() {
    return this.height * this.width;
  }
  set sideLength(newLength) {
    this.height = newLength;
    this.width = newLength;
  }
}

var square = new Square(2);