The fact that objects (including functions and arrays) are copied by reference could sometimes lead to results you don't expect.
Let's create two constructor functions and add some properties to the prototype of the first one:
>>> var A = function(){}, B = function(){}; >>> A.prototype.stuff = [1,2,3];
[1, 2, 3]
>>> A.prototype.name = 'a';
"a"
Now let's have B
inherit from A
(either extend()
or extend2()
will do):
>>> extend2(B, A);
Using extend2()
, B
's prototype inherited A.prototype
's properties as own properties.
>>> B.prototype.hasOwnProperty('name')
true
>>> B.prototype.hasOwnProperty('stuff')
true
The name
property is primitive so a new copy of it is created. The property stuff
is an array object so it is copied by reference:
>>> B.prototype.stuff
[1, 2, 3]
>>> B.prototype.stuff === A.prototype.stuff
true
Changing B
's copy of name
doesn...