JavaScript

In JavaScript, object methods are functions that are stored as properties within an object. They allow objects to perform actions or operations using their own data.

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🔍 What Is an Object Method?

A method is just a function defined inside an object.

Example:

const user = {
  name: "Alice",
  greet: function () {
    console.log(`Hello, my name is ${this.name}`);
  }
};

user.greet(); // Output: Hello, my name is Alice

• greet is a method of the user object.
• this.name refers to the name property of the same object.

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🧠 Defining Methods (Shorthand Syntax)

You can define object methods using shorthand syntax:

const user = {
  name: "Bob",
  greet() {
    console.log(`Hi, I'm ${this.name}`);
  }
};

This is cleaner and more commonly used in modern JavaScript.

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🧩 Built-in Object Methods

JavaScript provides several built-in methods to work with objects:

Object.keys()

Returns an array of keys in an object.

Object.keys({ a: 1, b: 2 }); // ["a", "b"]

Object.values()

Returns an array of values in an object.

Object.values({ a: 1, b: 2 }); // [1, 2]

Object.entries()

Returns an array of key-value pairs.

Object.entries({ a: 1, b: 2 }); // [["a", 1], ["b", 2]]

Object.assign()

Copies properties from one object to another.

const obj1 = { a: 1 };
const obj2 = { b: 2 };
Object.assign(obj1, obj2); // { a: 1, b: 2 }

Object.hasOwnProperty()

Checks if an object has a specific property.

const user = { name: "Tom" };
user.hasOwnProperty("name"); // true

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⚙️ Custom Methods with this

The this keyword refers to the object the method belongs to. It allows methods to work dynamically with the object’s own properties.

Example:

const car = {
  brand: "Tesla",
  model: "Model 3",
  details() {
    return `${this.brand} - ${this.model}`;
  }
};

console.log(car.details()); // Tesla - Model 3

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💡 Reusable Methods via Prototypes

You can define methods on prototypes so they’re shared across all instances:

function Animal(name) {
  this.name = name;
}

Animal.prototype.speak = function() {
  console.log(`${this.name} makes a sound`);
};

const dog = new Animal("Buddy");
dog.speak(); // Buddy makes a sound

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🧼 Best Practices

• Use shorthand syntax for cleaner code
• Use this wisely — especially in arrow functions (this behaves differently)
• Define reusable methods on prototypes or in classes
• Avoid defining large functions inside every object — use composition or class-based design

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