Question 40

Question

What is the difference between Object.create(null) and {}?

Answer

Object.create(null):

• Creates an empty object with no prototype chain. This means it won't inherit properties or methods from any other object.

• Useful when you want a completely isolated object, preventing accidental inheritance conflicts.

{} (object literal):

• Also creates an empty object, but by default, it gets set up with the Object.prototype as its prototype. This means:

  • It inherits properties and methods from Object.prototype. For example, it will have toString(), hasOwnProperty(), etc., built in.

Key Differences:

Feature	Object.create(null)	{}
Prototype	No prototype chain	Inherits from Object.prototype
Inheritance	None	Has inherited properties/methods

When to Use Each:

• Object.create(null): When you want absolute isolation, preventing unexpected inheritance. Common use cases:

  • Creating utility objects where you don't want them to inherit anything from other prototypes.

  • Building your own custom object structures from scratch.

• {} (object literal): In most general scenarios where you need a basic empty object, the default behavior of inheriting from Object.prototype is usually fine.