What are the differences between prototypal and classical inheritance?

What are the differences between prototypal and classical inheritance?

Prototypal inheritance is based on prototypes, while classical inheritance uses classes. In prototypal, objects inherit directly from other objects, whereas in classical, instances are created from classes.

Can you give me an example of prototypal inheritance?

Sure! In JavaScript, you can create an object and then set another object as its prototype using Object.create(). This allows the first object to inherit properties and methods from the second.

What about classical inheritance? How does it work?

In classical inheritance, you define a class and create instances of that class. The instances inherit properties and methods defined in the class, often using the extends keyword in languages like Java or C++.

Which one is more widely used in modern programming?

It depends on the language. JavaScript primarily uses prototypal inheritance, while languages like Java and C# use classical inheritance. Each has its advantages depending on the use case.

Are there any performance differences between the two?

Yes, prototypal inheritance can be more flexible and dynamic, which may lead to better performance in certain scenarios. However, classical inheritance can provide better structure and organization in larger applications.