OOP in JavaScript vs other languages
This lesson introduces OOP in JavaScript and compares it to other languages by going over the advantages/disadvantages of both.
We'll cover the following
JavaScript has relied on the object-based style of programming since the beginning as functions and methods can be found written in this style.
However, OOP in JavaScript works differently from other languages. If you’re familiar with OOP in other languages, it’s important that you put that knowledge aside for now, since holding on to those concepts might confuse you.
Now, let’s look into how OOP in JavaScript differs from other languages.
OOP in Other languages
You must have seen that other languages such as C++, Java, and C# use the keyword class
to define a class. A class has properties and methods in it for every instance of that class.
Note: If you try to remove the
class
keyword the code will not compile and will generate an error.
The class, in this case, acts as a blueprint for the object. Or, you can say that the object will be an instance of this class.
OOP in JavaScript
However, we can also implement OOP without using classes, which is what JavaScript does. Before (and even after) introducing its ES2015 version, JavaScript relied on Prototype-based programming. In this programming style, the object encapsulates the properties, i.e., its methods and data, instead of a class. You can add new properties to this object whenever you feel like. So, an object can be an individual instead of an instance of the class; meaning, if you want an object, you can easily create one without having to create a class first.
Which Is Better?
Get hands-on with 1200+ tech skills courses.