prototype chain

從下圖可看出 base class 與 derived class 的連結(繼承)方式，其實是不一樣的：

身為使用者自創的第一個 class，base class A 與 A.prototype 所連接的分別是 Function.prototype 與 Object.prototype。
derived class B 與 B.prototype 則分別連接 A 與 A.prototype。

prototype chain can't go in circles.

the assignment of a property (dot/bracket notation) always creates/sets a property in the original object, it never modifies objects in the prototype chain.

function's prototype (property) - new instances' prototype/parent object.
object's property - object's parent in prototype chain.
printPrototypeChain() - print the prototype chain of an object.

"obj instanceof A" checks if A.prototype is in the prototype chain of obj.
function's prototype is used in prototype chain.
method uses [[HomeObject]]'s prototype to trace super.
extending built-in classes
extending objects

replit ⟩ class B extends A

const { log } = console;

// ---------------------- main ------------------------------------

class A {}
class B extends A {};

let a = new A();
let b = new B();

// b's prototype chain
const b1 = b.__proto__;        // B.prototype
const b2 = b1.__proto__;       // A.prototype
const b3 = b2.__proto__;       // Object.prototype
const b4 = b3.__proto__;       // null

// B's prototype chain
const B1 = B.__proto__;
const B2 = B1.__proto__;
const B3 = B2.__proto__;
const B4 = B3.__proto__;

// ---------------------- console ----------------------------------
[
    // b's prototype chain
    b1 === B.prototype,        // true: b is a `B`
    b2 === A.prototype,        // true
    b3 === Object.prototype,   // true
    b4 === null,               // true
    
    B1 === A,                   // true: B inherits from A
    B2 === Function.prototype,  // true: A is a `function`.
    B3 === Object.prototype,    // true: `Function.prototype` is an `Object`.
    B4 === null,                // true: `Object.prototype` inherits from nothing.
    
].forEach(x => log(x));

JavaScript: The Definitive Guide ⟩ 6.2.3 Prototypes

ObjectPlayground - visualize prototype chain (cool ⭐️)

A function to print prototype chain for a given object

web.dev

🔰prototype chain