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Glite Dictionary
🌟 Original or typical 💻 Prototype-based
prototypal

prototypal

8.5
A way of programming where one object gets features from another object
  • adjective
  • /ˈproʊtəˌtaɪpəl/
  • Specialized
translation icon : prototípico
  • Using a prototypal approach can simplify the way we manage inheritance in JavaScript programming.

Examples

  • In JavaScript, objects can inherit properties directly from other objects using prototypal inheritance.

  • The prototypal structure of JavaScript allows for more flexibility in how objects are created and interact.

  • Think of it as prototypal inheritance for Python!

    Blog text (18)

  • The object-oriented nature of JavaScript is one of its best features, but prototypal inheritance can make anyone's head ache after a few hours working on pure JavaScript, as the syntax becomes convoluted at a certain level of complexity.

    Blog text (29)

Synonyms

prototypical
vsprototypal
7 6.8

A typical example that other things are made like

is used in programming for object inheritance, not as a general example
prototypic
vsprototypal
7.1

Being the original model that others copy

is a computing term for inheritance from objects instead of classes

Surface Forms

prototypal positive

Morphology

prototypal = prototype (semi-transparent) = proto + type + al

The form is a regular adjective derived from 'prototype' with '-al', even though the computing sense is specialized.

Etymology

Prototypal in computing keeps the same idea: it comes from proto- ('first') and type ('model'), so an object uses another object called a prototype as its first model and gets features directly from it.