JavaScript: Object Literal Expression

The most useful and simple way to create a object is using the literal expression {…}.

{k1:v1, k2:v2 etc}

Return a new object with properties key k1 value v1, etc.

// create object with 2 properties
const jj = {aa:7, bb:8};

console.log( jj ); // { aa: 7, bb: 8}

Property key must be string or symbol, else, it's converted to string automatically. [see Property Key]

Ending Comma Ok

// ending comma is ok
const h4 = { k1:7, k2:8, };

console.log( h4 ); // { k1: 7, k2: 8 }

Repeated Comma is Syntax Error

// repeated comma is not ok
const hh = { a:1, , b:2};
// SyntaxError: Unexpected token

Function as Property

Example of a property value that is a function:

// example of object with a method
const my = {
    dd:7,
    ff: function (x) { return x + 1; },
};

console.log( my ); // { dd: 7, ff: [Function: ff] }

// call the function
console.log( my.ff(3) ); // 4

Computed Property Key (JS2015)

If property key is enclosed by square bracket [key], the key is evaluated as expression.

obj = {[expression]:value}

// es2015 computed property syntax. use [] around the property key
const obj = {["a" + "b"]: 4 };
console.log(obj.ab); // 4

This is useful when you want a variable's value to be the property key.

// computed property key
const x = "cc";
const obj = {[x]: 3};
console.log(obj.cc); // 3

This new syntax is especially useful for property key that is symbol. [see Symbol Tutorial]

Method Syntax Shorthand (JS2015)

obj = { fname() {body} }

is equivalent to:

obj = { fname: function () {body} }

// new syntax shorthand for method, ES2015
const obj = {
    f(x) { return x + 1; },
    g:4
};

console.log( obj.f(2) === 3); // true

Parent of {}

The parent of object created using Object Literal Expression is Object.prototype. [see Prototype and Inheritance]

Object Literal Expression vs Object.Create

{k1:v1}

is equivalent to

Object.create(Object.prototype,{k1:{value:v1, enumerable: true, configurable: true, writable: true}})

[see Object.create]

// check equivalence of 2 ways to create a object

const o1 = {"p":1};

const o2 = Object.create(
    Object.prototype,
    { "p":
      {value:1, enumerable: true, configurable: true, writable: true}
    }
);

console.log( Reflect.getPrototypeOf(o1) === Reflect.getPrototypeOf(o2) );

console.log( Object.isExtensible ( o1 ) );
console.log( Object.isExtensible ( o2 ) );

console.log(
JSON.stringify ( Object.getOwnPropertyDescriptor(o1, "p") )
===
JSON.stringify ( Object.getOwnPropertyDescriptor(o2, "p") )
);

// all true