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Original file line number Diff line number Diff line change
@@ -1,20 +1,20 @@

Answers:

1. `true`.

The assignment to `Rabbit.prototype` sets up `[[Prototype]]` for new objects, but it does not affect the existing ones.

2. `false`.

Objects are assigned by reference. The object from `Rabbit.prototype` is not duplicated, it's still a single object referenced both by `Rabbit.prototype` and by the `[[Prototype]]` of `rabbit`.

So when we change its content through one reference, it is visible through the other one.

3. `true`.

All `delete` operations are applied directly to the object. Here `delete rabbit.eats` tries to remove `eats` property from `rabbit`, but it doesn't have it. So the operation won't have any effect.

4. `undefined`.

The property `eats` is deleted from the prototype, it doesn't exist any more.
Original file line number Diff line number Diff line change
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
We can use such approach if we are sure that `"constructor"` property has the correct value.

For instance, if we don't touch the default `"prototype"`, then this code works for sure:

```js run
function User(name) {
Expand All @@ -10,14 +10,14 @@ function User(name) {
let user = new User('John');
let user2 = new user.constructor('Pete');

alert( user2.name ); // Pete (worked!)
```

It worked, because `User.prototype.constructor == User`.

..But if someone, so to speak, overwrites `User.prototype` and forgets to recreate `constructor` to reference `User`, then it would fail.

For instance:

```js run
function User(name) {
Expand All @@ -33,17 +33,17 @@ let user2 = new user.constructor('Pete');
alert( user2.name ); // undefined
```

Why `user2.name` is `undefined`?

Here's how `new user.constructor('Pete')` works:

1. First, it looks for `constructor` in `user`. Nothing.
2. Then it follows the prototype chain. The prototype of `user` is `User.prototype`, and it also has no `constructor` (because we "forgot" to set it right!).
3. Going further up the chain, `User.prototype` is a plain object, its prototype is the built-in `Object.prototype`.
4. Finally, for the built-in `Object.prototype`, there's a built-in `Object.prototype.constructor == Object`. So it is used.

Finally, at the end, we have `let user2 = new Object('Pete')`.

Probably, that's not what we want. We'd like to create `new User`, not `new Object`. That's the outcome of the missing `constructor`.

(Just in case you're curious, the `new Object(...)` call converts its argument to an object. That's a theoretical thing, in practice no one calls `new Object` with a value, and generally we don't use `new Object` to make objects at all).
Original file line number Diff line number Diff line change
Expand Up @@ -2,14 +2,14 @@ importance: 5

---

# Create an object with the same constructor

Imagine, we have an arbitrary object `obj`, created by a constructor function -- we don't know which one, but we'd like to create a new object using it.

Can we do it like that?

```js
let obj2 = new obj.constructor();
```

Give an example of a constructor function for `obj` which lets such code work right. And an example that makes it work wrong.
98 changes: 49 additions & 49 deletions 1-js/08-prototypes/02-function-prototype/article.md
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# F.prototype

Remember, new objects can be created with a constructor function, like `new F()`.

If `F.prototype` is an object, then the `new` operator uses it to set `[[Prototype]]` for the new object.

```smart
JavaScript had prototypal inheritance from the beginning. It was one of the core features of the language.

But in the old times, there was no direct access to it. The only thing that worked reliably was a `"prototype"` property of the constructor function, described in this chapter. So there are many scripts that still use it.
```

Please note that `F.prototype` here means a regular property named `"prototype"` on `F`. It sounds something similar to the term "prototype", but here we really mean a regular property with this name.

Here's the example:

```js run
let animal = {
Expand All @@ -27,95 +27,95 @@ function Rabbit(name) {
Rabbit.prototype = animal;
*/!*

let rabbit = new Rabbit("White Rabbit"); // rabbit.__proto__ == animal

alert( rabbit.eats ); // true
```

Setting `Rabbit.prototype = animal` literally states the following: "When a `new Rabbit` is created, assign its `[[Prototype]]` to `animal`".

That's the resulting picture:

![](proto-constructor-animal-rabbit.svg)

On the picture, `"prototype"` is a horizontal arrow, meaning a regular property, and `[[Prototype]]` is vertical, meaning the inheritance of `rabbit` from `animal`.

```smart header="`F.prototype` only used at `new F` time"
`F.prototype` property is only used when `new F` is called, it assigns `[[Prototype]]` of the new object.

If, after the creation, `F.prototype` property changes (`F.prototype = <another object>`), then new objects created by `new F` will have another object as `[[Prototype]]`, but already existing objects keep the old one.
```

## Default F.prototype, constructor property

Every function has the `"prototype"` property even if we don't supply it.

The default `"prototype"` is an object with the only property `constructor` that points back to the function itself.

Like this:

```js
function Rabbit() {}

/* default prototype
Rabbit.prototype = { constructor: Rabbit };
*/
```

![](function-prototype-constructor.svg)

We can check it:

```js run
function Rabbit() {}
// by default:
// Rabbit.prototype = { constructor: Rabbit }

alert( Rabbit.prototype.constructor == Rabbit ); // true
```

Naturally, if we do nothing, the `constructor` property is available to all rabbits through `[[Prototype]]`:

```js run
function Rabbit() {}
// by default:
// Rabbit.prototype = { constructor: Rabbit }

let rabbit = new Rabbit(); // inherits from {constructor: Rabbit}

alert(rabbit.constructor == Rabbit); // true (from prototype)
```

![](rabbit-prototype-constructor.svg)

We can use `constructor` property to create a new object using the same constructor as the existing one.

Like here:

```js run
function Rabbit(name) {
this.name = name;
alert(name);
}

let rabbit = new Rabbit("White Rabbit");

*!*
let rabbit2 = new rabbit.constructor("Black Rabbit");
*/!*
```

That's handy when we have an object, don't know which constructor was used for it (e.g. it comes from a 3rd party library), and we need to create another one of the same kind.

But probably the most important thing about `"constructor"` is that...

**...JavaScript itself does not ensure the right `"constructor"` value.**

Yes, it exists in the default `"prototype"` for functions, but that's all. What happens with it later -- is totally on us.

In particular, if we replace the default prototype as a whole, then there will be no `"constructor"` in it.

For instance:

```js run
function Rabbit() {}
Expand All @@ -129,18 +129,18 @@ alert(rabbit.constructor === Rabbit); // false
*/!*
```

So, to keep the right `"constructor"` we can choose to add/remove properties to the default `"prototype"` instead of overwriting it as a whole:

```js
function Rabbit() {}

// Not overwrite Rabbit.prototype totally
// just add to it
Rabbit.prototype.jumps = true
// the default Rabbit.prototype.constructor is preserved
```

Or, alternatively, recreate the `constructor` property manually:

```js
Rabbit.prototype = {
Expand All @@ -150,26 +150,26 @@ Rabbit.prototype = {
*/!*
};

// now constructor is also correct, because we added it
```


## Summary

In this chapter we briefly described the way of setting a `[[Prototype]]` for objects created via a constructor function. Later we'll see more advanced programming patterns that rely on it.

Everything is quite simple, just a few notes to make things clear:

- The `F.prototype` property (don't mistake it for `[[Prototype]]`) sets `[[Prototype]]` of new objects when `new F()` is called.
- The value of `F.prototype` should be either an object or `null`: other values won't work.
- The `"prototype"` property only has such a special effect when set on a constructor function, and invoked with `new`.

On regular objects the `prototype` is nothing special:
```js
let user = {
name: "John",
prototype: "Bla-bla" // no magic at all
};
```

By default all functions have `F.prototype = { constructor: F }`, so we can get the constructor of an object by accessing its `"constructor"` property.
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