Tutorials

Lodash _.create() Object Method

Posted in lodash Tutorial

Updated on Mar 13, 2024

By Mari Selvan

👁️ 54 - Views

⏳ 4 mins

💬 1 Comment

Photo Credit to CodeToFun

🙋 Introduction

In the vast landscape of JavaScript development, object creation and manipulation play a pivotal role. Lodash, a renowned utility library, offers a wealth of functions to streamline these tasks. Among them, the _.create() method stands out, providing a versatile way to create objects with customizable prototypes.

This method empowers developers to construct objects efficiently while maintaining flexibility in their application structure.

🧠 Understanding _.create() Method

The _.create() method in Lodash is designed to create a new object with the specified prototype. This prototype can be any object, allowing for the inheritance of properties and methods. This method is particularly useful for establishing a chain of prototypes or crafting objects with shared functionalities.

💡 Syntax

The syntax for the _.create() method is straightforward:

syntax.js

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_.create(prototype, [properties])

prototype: The object to use as a prototype.
properties (Optional): The properties to set on the newly created object.

📝 Example

Let's dive into a simple example to illustrate the usage of the _.create() method:

example.js

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const _ = require('lodash');
// Create a prototype object
const animalPrototype = {
  makeSound: function() {
    console.log('Generic animal sound');
  },
};

// Create a new object inheriting from the prototype
const cat = _.create(animalPrototype, {
  species: 'Cat'
});

// Access properties and methods
console.log(cat.species); // Output: Cat

cat.makeSound(); // Output: Generic animal sound

In this example, cat is created with animalPrototype as its prototype, inheriting the makeSound method and having an additional property species.

🏆 Best Practices

When working with the _.create() method, consider the following best practices:

Define Clear Prototypes:

When using _.create(), ensure that your prototypes are well-defined and encapsulate the shared properties and methods relevant to the objects you intend to create.

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const vehiclePrototype = {
  startEngine: function() {
    console.log('Engine started');
  },
  stopEngine: function() {
    console.log('Engine stopped');
  },
};

const car = _.create(vehiclePrototype, {
  type: 'Sedan'
});

car.startEngine(); // Output: Engine started

Leverage Prototypal Inheritance:

Exploit the power of prototypal inheritance by creating chains of objects. This allows for the sharing of methods and properties across multiple levels of your application structure.

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const shapePrototype = {
  calculateArea: function() {
    console.log('Calculating area');
  },
};

const circle = _.create(shapePrototype, {
  type: 'Circle'
});

const square = _.create(shapePrototype, {
  type: 'Square'
});

circle.calculateArea(); // Output: Calculating area
square.calculateArea(); // Output: Calculating area

Customize Object Properties:

Take advantage of the optional properties parameter to customize the properties of the newly created object. This provides flexibility in tailoring objects to specific requirements.

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const userPrototype = {
  greet: function() {
    console.log(`Hello, ${this.name}!`);
  },
};

const newUser = _.create(userPrototype, {
  name: 'John Doe',
  age: 30
});
newUser.greet(); // Output: Hello, John Doe!

console.log(newUser.age); // Output: 30

📚 Use Cases

Object Factories:

Use _.create() to create object factories, enabling the efficient generation of objects with shared behaviors and structures.

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function createPerson(name, age) {
  return _.create(userPrototype, {
    name,
    age
  });
}
const person1 = createPerson('Alice', 25);
const person2 = createPerson('Bob', 30);

person1.greet(); // Output: Hello, Alice!
person2.greet(); // Output: Hello, Bob!

Prototype Chains:

Build prototype chains for complex applications, organizing shared functionalities at various levels of the chain.

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const mammalPrototype = {
  giveBirth: function() {
    console.log('Live birth');
  },
};

const dogPrototype = _.create(mammalPrototype, {
  breed: 'Labrador',
  bark: function() {
    console.log('Woof, woof!');
  },
});

const labrador = _.create(dogPrototype, {
  color: 'Golden'
});

labrador.giveBirth(); // Output: Live birth
labrador.bark(); // Output: Woof, woof!

Dynamic Object Configuration:

Dynamically configure objects by providing different prototypes and properties based on runtime conditions or user input.

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function createDynamicObject(type) {
  const basePrototype = {
    displayType: function() {
      console.log(`Object type: ${this.type}`);
    },
  };
  const specificProperties = type === 'A' ? {
    propertyA: true
  } : {
    propertyB: true
  };
  return _.create(basePrototype, {
    type,
    ...specificProperties
  });
}

const dynamicObjectA = createDynamicObject('A');
const dynamicObjectB = createDynamicObject('B');

dynamicObjectA.displayType(); // Output: Object type: A
console.log(dynamicObjectA.propertyA); // Output: true

dynamicObjectB.displayType(); // Output: Object type: B
console.log(dynamicObjectB.propertyB); // Output: true

🎉 Conclusion

The _.create() method in Lodash offers a versatile approach to object creation and prototypal inheritance in JavaScript. Whether you're building prototype chains, creating object factories, or dynamically configuring objects, _.create() provides a powerful tool for crafting flexible and efficient object structures.

By adhering to best practices and exploring diverse use cases, you can harness the full potential of the _.create() method in your Lodash projects.