What is the difference between prototypal and classical inheritance?

Can you explain the difference between prototypal and classical inheritance?

Sure! Prototypal inheritance is a feature in JavaScript where objects can inherit from other objects directly. In contrast, classical inheritance is based on classes and instances, commonly seen in languages like Java.

How does prototypal inheritance work in JavaScript?

In JavaScript, every object has a prototype, which is another object from which it can inherit properties and methods. You can set an object's prototype using Object.create().

What are the advantages of using prototypal inheritance?

Prototypal inheritance allows for more flexible and dynamic object creation. It can lead to less memory usage since methods can be shared across instances.

Can you give an example of classical inheritance?

Certainly! In classical inheritance, you define a class and create instances of that class. For example, in Java, you might have a Car class and create myCar as an instance of Car.

Which one is better to use in JavaScript?

It depends on the use case! Prototypal inheritance is more natural in JavaScript, while classical inheritance can be more familiar for those coming from class-based languages.