JavaScript Object Prototypes
All JavaScript objects inherit properties and methods from a prototype.
In the previous chapter we learned how to use an object constructor:
Example
function Person(first, last, age, eyecolor) {
this.firstName = first;
this.lastName = last;
this.age = age;
this.eyeColor = eyecolor;
}
var myFather = new Person("John", "Doe", 50, "blue");
var myMother = new Person("Sally", "Rally", 48, "green");
Try it Yourself »
We also learned that you can not add a new property to an existing object constructor:
To add a new property to a constructor, you must add it to the constructor function:
Example
function Person(first, last, age, eyecolor) {
this.firstName = first;
this.lastName = last;
this.age = age;
this.eyeColor = eyecolor;
this.nationality = "English";
}
Try it Yourself »
Prototype Inheritance
All JavaScript objects inherit properties and methods from a prototype.
Date objects inherit from Date.prototype. Array objects inherit from Array.prototype. Person objects inherit from Person.prototype.
The Object.prototype is on the top of the prototype inheritance chain:
Date objects, Array objects, and Person objects inherit from Object.prototype.
Adding Properties and Methods to Objects
Sometimes you want to add new properties (or methods) to all existing objects of a given type.
Sometimes you want to add new properties (or methods) to an object constructor.
Using the prototype Property
The JavaScript prototype property allows you to add new properties to object constructors:
Example
function Person(first, last, age, eyecolor) {
this.firstName = first;
this.lastName = last;
this.age = age;
this.eyeColor = eyecolor;
}
Person.prototype.nationality = "English";
Try it Yourself »
The JavaScript prototype property also allows you to add new methods objects constructors:
Example
function Person(first, last, age, eyecolor) {
this.firstName = first;
this.lastName = last;
this.age = age;
this.eyeColor = eyecolor;
}
Person.prototype.name = function() {
return this.firstName + " " + this.lastName;
};
Try it Yourself »
Only modify your own prototypes. Never modify the prototypes of standard JavaScript objects.
