CODEWITHSUNDEEP
javascriptoop
Tower
Tower

Reputation: 102935

JavaScript inheritance

Douglas Crockford seems to like the following inheritance approach:

if (typeof Object.create !== 'function') {
    Object.create = function (o) {
        function F() {}
        F.prototype = o;
        return new F();
    };
}
newObject = Object.create(oldObject);

It looks OK to me, but how does it differ from John Resig's simple inheritance approach?

Basically it goes down to

newObject = Object.create(oldObject);

versus 

newObject = Object.extend();

And I am interested in theories. Implementation wise there does not seem to be much difference.

Upvotes: 12

Views: 1223

Answers (2)

SLaks
SLaks

Reputation: 888077

They are completely different.

Douglas Crockford's method creates an instance that inherits a different instance.

John Resig's approach creates a class that inherits a different class.

When using Douglas Crockford's method, you're creating a new object instance that inherits a single existing instance.

When using John Resig's approach, you're creating a constructor function, which you can then use to create instances of the inherited class.

Upvotes: 6

Christian C. Salvadó
Christian C. Salvadó

Reputation: 827922

The approach is completely different, the Resig technique creates constructor functions, this approach is also known as classical inheritance i.e.:

var Person = Class.extend({
  init: function(isDancing){
    this.dancing = isDancing;
  }
});

var p = new Person(true);

As you see, the Person object is actually a constructor function, which is used with the new operator.

With the Object.create technique, the inheritance is based on instances, where objects inherit from other objects directly, which is also known as Prototypal Inheritance or Differential Inheritance.

Upvotes: 7

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