How Prototype works?

[Tarbuza]

Hi,

I would appreciate if anyone could help me by explaining the concept of prototype in JavaScript with examples. I have read about the prototype property but I am still not clear. Thanks.

 

[Trevman]

http://web-fx.info/dhtml/ieemu/js.html

That has some info on it.

It only works in Netscape 6.x tho -- ===
Supports Mozilla and Web Standards
Knows HTML/XHTML, CSS1, JavaScript, PHP, C++, DOM1
===

 

[starway]

Prototype defines a property that is shared by all objects of the specified type.

Syntax:

objectType.prototype.propertyName = value

Parameters:

objectType - the name of a constructor or function specifying an object type.

propertyName - the name of the property to be created.

value - the property value initially assigned for all objects of the specified objectType.

Prototype can be applied to any object created with new operator - user-defined objects or standard javascript objects like Array, Date, String, Number, etc.

Here's an example from original Netscape's javascript documentstion:

var today = new Date()
var birthday = new Date(95,12,17)
Date.prototype.description=null
today.description="Oh what a beautiful mornin\'"
birthday.description="The day you were born"

After you set a property for the prototype, all subsequent objects created with Date() will have the property:

startDate=new Date()
startDate.description="Started the daily grind"

Hope it will help you.
good luck

 

[Tarbuza]

Thanks a million. It is now crystal clear.