Prototype vs. Constructor Functions: Which Method Offers Better Performance in JavaScript?

Comparing the Performance of Prototype vs Constructor Function Methods

In JavaScript, defining methods for custom objects can be achieved via either the prototype object or using this within the constructor function. While the latter approach allows for private instance variables, concerns arise regarding performance due to potential function duplication for each instance.

To investigate this performance claim, let's dive into an experiment using the jsperf benchmark tool: https://jsperf.app/prototype-vs-this.

The results show that declaring methods via the prototype is indeed faster. However, the extent to which this difference affects real-world applications is debatable.

Performance bottlenecks in apps rarely stem from method initialization unless excessive object instantiations (e.g., 10000 per animation step) occur.

For performance-critical scenarios, micro-optimization techniques like declaring methods via the prototype may be considered. Otherwise, the choice between methods depends on the developer's preference.

It's worth noting that JavaScript has a convention of prefixing private properties with an underscore (_process()). While developers generally respect this practice, relying on its enforcement may not be practical.

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