Question 57

Question

Explain the difference between Reflect.get() and Reflect.set() methods.

Answer

1. Reflect.get(target, propertyKey[, receiver]):

• Purpose: Accesses a value from an object, similar to using dot notation or bracket access (object.property or object['property']).

• Parameters:

  • target: The object where the property is located.

  • propertyKey: The name of the property you want to retrieve (as a string).

  • receiver (Optional): An object whose context will be used when calling getter functions on the target object. Useful for manipulating execution context.

2. Reflect.set(target, propertyKey, value[, receiver]):

• Purpose: Assigns a new value to a property of an object, similar to using assignment (object.property = value).

• Parameters:

  • target: The object whose property you want to modify.

  • propertyKey: The name of the property (as a string).

  • value: The new value to assign to the property.

  • receiver (Optional): Similar to Reflect.get, it influences context when setter functions are called.

Key Differences:

Feature	Reflect.get()	Reflect.set()
Action	Retrieval	Assignment
Return Value	Property Value	Boolean (true if set)
Usage	Get property values	Change property values

Why Use Reflect?

• Clarity: Reflect methods offer a more explicit way to handle property access and modification, improving code readability.

• Framework Integration: They are commonly used in frameworks like React for component state management and data binding.