How to “properly” create a custom object in JavaScript?

Question

I wonder about what the best way is to create an JavaScript object that has properties and methods.

I have seen examples where the person used var self = this<

Answer 1

Another way would be http://jsfiddle.net/nnUY4/ (i dont know if this kind of handling object creation and revealing functions follow any specific pattern)

// Build-Reveal

var person={
create:function(_name){ // 'constructor'
                        //  prevents direct instantiation 
                        //  but no inheritance
    return (function() {

        var name=_name||"defaultname";  // private variable

        // [some private functions]

        function getName(){
            return name;
        }

        function setName(_name){
            name=_name;
        }

        return {    // revealed functions
            getName:getName,    
            setName:setName
        }
    })();
   }
  }

  // … no (instantiated) person so far …

  var p=person.create(); // name will be set to 'defaultname'
  p.setName("adam");        // and overwritten
  var p2=person.create("eva"); // or provide 'constructor parameters'
  alert(p.getName()+":"+p2.getName()); // alerts "adam:eva"