Prototype-Based Programming

What Does Prototype-Based Programming Mean?

Prototype-based programming is a style of programming in which already-created objects are cloned and reused to construct a program or applications.

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Its programming context and core framework is similar to an object-oriented programming structure, but it uses a classless inheritance programming style in creating duplicate object instances.

Prototype-based programming is also known as prototypal programming, prototype-oriented programming, classless programming or instance-based programming.

Techopedia Explains Prototype-Based Programming

Prototype-based programming primarily is a programming model that works on the concept of object cloning and prototyping. It utilizes object inheritance, where one object can be reused by another object without the need for creating any parent class. Such as when using "prototype" function/method in JavaScript, an object can be called/used in another program without defining its class. The JavaScript creates a link between the new object and the primary object. The cloned/copied/prototyped object works the same way as the primary object.

Java Script, Action Script, Newton Script and MOO are some prototype-based programming languages.

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Margaret Rouse

Margaret Rouse is an award-winning technical writer and teacher known for her ability to explain complex technical subjects to a non-technical, business audience. Over the past twenty years her explanations have appeared on TechTarget websites and she's been cited as an authority in articles by the New York Times, Time Magazine, USA Today, ZDNet, PC Magazine and Discovery Magazine.Margaret's idea of a fun day is helping IT and business professionals learn to speak each other’s highly specialized languages. If you have a suggestion for a new definition or how to improve a technical explanation, please email Margaret or contact her…