Help on JavaScript constructor property

[lee_wen]

I had read from books that the constructor property of object is inherited from its prototype. And the prototype can be changed dynamically. New property can be added to or deleted from object even it was created before the prototype change. But I got confused on below codes.

function A()
{
	this.title = "A";	
}

function B()
{
	this.title = "B";	
}

document.write("<br>");
var b = new B();

document.write(b.constructor);
document.write("<br>");
document.write(B.prototype.constructor);
document.write("<br>");

B.prototype = new A();
document.write(b.constructor); // Suppose to output "function A() ..."
document.write("<br>");
document.write(B.prototype.constructor);
document.write("<br>");

B.prototype.constructor = B;
document.write(b.constructor);
document.write("<br>");
document.write(B.prototype.constructor);
document.write("<br>");

But the actual result (both IE and firefox) is

function B() { this.title = "B"; }
function B() { this.title = "B"; }
function B() { this.title = "B"; }
function A() { this.title = "A"; }
function B() { this.title = "B"; }
function B() { this.title = "B"; }

Please help me. thanks.

[mrhoo]

The change is read in the instances and in the prototypes,
not in the functions.

function A(){this.title='A'};
function B(){this.title='B'};
B.prototype=new A;

var b=new B();

alert(b.constructor); // returns function A
alert(B.prototype.constructor); // // returns function A

But since title property is in the constructor function, and not the prototype, b.title is 'B'.

If you define a property or method in the prototype it will be inherited
A.prototype.type='A';
alert(b.type);

[lee_wen]

Originally Posted by mrhoo

The change is read in the instances and in the prototypes,
not in the functions.

function A(){this.title='A'};
function B(){this.title='B'};
B.prototype=new A;

var b=new B();

alert(b.constructor); // returns function A
alert(B.prototype.constructor); // // returns function A

But since title property is in the constructor function, and not the prototype, b.title is 'B'.

If you define a property or method in the prototype it will be inherited
A.prototype.type='A';
alert(b.type);

Maybe I didn't clearly describe my issue.
I create instance b first by b = new B();
then I change B's prototype B.prototype = new A();
As b itself doesn't have constructor property and it inherits the property from its prototype, so b.constructor should be identical with B.prototype.constructor, i.e. both of them should be "function A() ...". But the test result is b.constructor is still "function B() ...".

I also tested creating the object after setting the prototype, both of them are "function A() ...".

I am wondering what happened behind the invocation order change.

[rnd me]

Originally Posted by lee_wen

As b itself doesn't have constructor property and it inherits the property from its prototype, so b.constructor should be identical with B.prototype.constructor, i.e. both of them should be "function A() ..."

no, b does have a constructor: B.
in the code you posted, A does comes up for both, as you expected.

function A(){this.title='A'};
function B(){this.title='B'};
B.prototype=new A;

var b=new B();

alert(b.constructor); // returns function A
alert(B.prototype.constructor); // // returns function A

is there anything you're still unclear on?

[lee_wen]

Originally Posted by rnd me

no, b does have a constructor: B.
in the code you posted, A does comes up for both, as you expected.

function A(){this.title='A'};
function B(){this.title='B'};
B.prototype=new A;

var b=new B();

alert(b.constructor); // returns function A
alert(B.prototype.constructor); // // returns function A

is there anything you're still unclear on?

I know it works well in your case.
I am talking about the case that b is created before reassign the prototype.

[rnd me]

in this case:

function B(){this.title='B'};
var b=new B();

alert(b.constructor); // returns function B
alert(B.prototype.constructor); // // returns function B

the first alert is obvoius.
the second one results from the default prototype object used for constructors;
an empty object of the type as the constructor for objects, the function itself for functions, undefined for primitives, etc...