JavaScript prototypes: How objects inherit properties and methods

JavaScript prototypes form a foundational mechanism for enabling inheritance by allowing objects to share properties and methods through the prototype chain. This mechanism explains how objects can access built-in methods like toString() even if they aren't explicitly defined on the object itself, as these are inherited from the Object.prototype. The distinction between an object's internal [[Prototype]] and the prototype property is crucial, with the former being an internal reference for inheriting behaviors from another object. Constructor functions utilize prototypes to create reusable templates, enabling multiple objects to share methods without having redundant copies for each instance. Modern JavaScript, with its ES6 class syntax, provides a more streamlined approach to working with prototypes, allowing for easier inheritance and method extension through class-based structures. This syntax automatically manages the prototype chain, facilitating the creation of subclasses and the inheritance of properties and methods, thereby enhancing the efficiency and maintainability of JavaScript code. Understanding these concepts is essential for effective programming, whether using traditional prototype-based methods or the newer class syntax.