prototype

Summary

Returns a reference to the prototype for a class of objects.

Syntax

objectName.prototype

Examples

The objectName argument is the name of an object.

Use the prototype property to provide a base set of functionality to a class of objects. New instances of an object “inherit” the behavior of the prototype assigned to that object.

For example, to add a method to the Array object that returns the value of the largest element of the array, declare the function, add it to Array.prototype , and then use it.

function array_max( ){
     var i, max = this[0];
     for (i = 1; i < this.length; i++)
     {
     if (max < this[i])
     max = this[i];
     }
     return max;
 }
 Array.prototype.max = array_max;
 var myArray = new Array(7, 1, 3, 11, 25, 9
 );
 document.write(myArray.max());

 // Output:
 // 25

Remarks

All intrinsic JavaScript objects have a prototype property that is read-only. Properties and methods may be added to the prototype, but the object may not be assigned a different prototype. However, user-defined objects may be assigned a new prototype.

The method and property lists for each intrinsic object in this language reference indicate which ones are part of the object’s prototype, and which are not.

Attributions

Microsoft Developer Network: Article