When should I use WeakMap in JavaScript?

When should I use WeakMap in JavaScript?

You should use WeakMap when you need a collection of key-value pairs where the keys are objects and you want them to be garbage collected when there are no other references to them.

Can you give me an example of how WeakMap works?

Sure! Here's a simple example:

const weakMap = new WeakMap();
const obj = {};
weakMap.set(obj, 'value');
console.log(weakMap.get(obj)); // 'value'

// If 'obj' is no longer referenced elsewhere, it can be garbage collected.

What are the benefits of using WeakMap over a regular Map?

The main benefits are memory efficiency and automatic garbage collection of keys. WeakMap does not prevent its keys from being garbage collected, which helps avoid memory leaks.

Are there any limitations to using WeakMap?

Yes, WeakMap only accepts objects as keys and does not have methods like size or clear, which are available in regular Maps.