Defining methods via prototype vs using this in the constructor - really a performance difference?

Question

In JavaScript, we have two ways of making a \"class\" and giving it public functions.

Method 1:

function MyClass() {
    var privateInstanceVariable         


        

Answer 1

You may use this approach and it will allow you to use prototype and access instance variables.

var Person = (function () {
    function Person(age, name) {
        this.age = age;
        this.name = name;
    }

    Person.prototype.showDetails = function () {
        alert('Age: ' + this.age + ' Name: ' + this.name);
    };

    return Person; // This is not referencing `var Person` but the Person function

}()); // See Note1 below

Note1:

The parenthesis will call the function (self invoking function) and assign the result to the var Person.

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Usage

var p1 = new Person(40, 'George');
var p2 = new Person(55, 'Jerry');
p1.showDetails();
p2.showDetails();