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Prototype chain (Definition)

JavaScript supports an inheritance chain based on prototypes.

Availability:

ECMAScript edition - 2

A prototype chain is analogous to the super/sub-class inheritance mechanisms in an object-oriented environment. It is not quite the same, however, because the inheritance takes place at the object level and there are no true classes to instantiate. Instead you clone existing objects.

See also:Prototype Based Inheritance, prototype property, Shared Property

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Cross-references:

ECMA 262 edition 2 - section - 4.2.1

ECMA 262 edition 2 - section - 8.6.2

ECMA 262 edition 3 - section - 4.2.1

ECMA 262 edition 3 - section - 8.6.2

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JavaScript Programmer's Reference, Cliff Wootton
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