Summary

• Everything in JavaScript is an object
  
  
• The basic object is the empty object literal {}
  
  
• Object have properties which are name:value pairs
  
  
• The value of a property is always an object and hence an object can represent a general tree structure by nesting objects
  
  
• The Global Object provides properties that can be used as if they were global variables
  
  
• The builtin objects String and Number allow data to be stored in objects as values.

• Primitive data values behave as if they only have the default properties of the object. This is done for reasons of efficiency.

• Objects have values which cannot be changed
  
  
• Expressions create new objects with values derived from the objects involved in the expression.

JustJavaScripticon

Just JavaScript

There is a newer version of the draft of the book here.

A Radical Look At JavaScript

Contents

1. JavaScript Isn't Java, or C, or C# ... (Book Only)
2. In The Beginning Was The Object
3. The Function Object
4. How Functions Become Methods
5. The Object Expression
6. Object Construction
7. The Prototype
8. Type And Non-Type
9. Constructor And InstanceOf
10. Duck Testing And Prototype Construction

-Preface-

Most books on JavaScript either compare it to the better known class based languages such as Java or C++ and even go on to show you how to make it look like the one of these.

Just JavaScript is an experiment in telling JavaScript's story "just as it is" without trying to apologise for its lack of class or some other feature. The broad features of the story are very clear but some of the small details may need working out along the way - hence the use of the term "experiment". Read on, but don't assume that you are just reading an account of Java, C++ or C# translated to JavaScript - you need to think about things in a new way.

Just JavaScript is a radical look at the language without apologies.

Related Articles

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JavaScript Objects With Value - valueOf and toString

JavaScript Hoisting Explained

WAT! JavaScript, Ignorance And Prejudice

What Exactly Is A First Class Function - And Why You Should Care

Lambda Calculus For Programmers

The Undefined Defined Variable

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