Understanding JavaScript Prototypes

The prototype in JavaScript is an essential concept in JavaScript that allows you to add properties and methods to an object. Every JavaScript function has a prototype property that is used to attach shared properties and methods to instances of objects created by constructor functions.

Prototype Chain

JavaScript uses a prototype chain to inherit properties and methods from other objects, enabling inheritance in JavaScript. This chain links objects, allowing an instance to inherit methods from its parent object. If an instance method or property is not found, JavaScript will look up the chain until it finds it, or returns undefined.

Using Prototypes for Efficiency

By attaching methods to an object's prototype, you ensure that memory usage is optimized because all instances of the object will share the same methods rather than creating duplicates.