What is the difference between prototypes and classes in JavaScript?

What is the difference between prototypes and classes in JavaScript?

In JavaScript, prototypes are the original way to create objects and inherit properties, while classes are syntactical sugar over prototypes, introduced in ES6, making it easier to create objects and handle inheritance.

Can you give me an example of using prototypes?

Sure! Here's a simple example:

function Person(name) {
    this.name = name;
}

Person.prototype.greet = function() {
    console.log(`Hello, my name is ${this.name}`);
};

const john = new Person('John');
john.greet(); // Output: Hello, my name is John

How do classes simplify object creation?

Classes simplify object creation by providing a clear syntax for defining constructors and methods. For example:

class Person {
    constructor(name) {
        this.name = name;
    }
    greet() {
        console.log(`Hello, my name is ${this.name}`);
    }
}

const john = new Person('John');
john.greet(); // Output: Hello, my name is John

Are there any performance differences between using prototypes and classes?

Generally, there are no significant performance differences between prototypes and classes in JavaScript, as classes are built on top of prototypes. However, classes can lead to cleaner and more maintainable code.