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Are there problems with adding new methods to built-in object prototypes in patching?
sobes.tech AI
Answer from AI
Adding new methods to the prototypes of built-in objects (for example, Array.prototype or String.prototype in JavaScript) can lead to several issues:
- Name conflicts: If the language standard adds a method with the same name in the future, it can cause unexpected errors.
- Enumeration problems: Methods added to the prototype may appear in
for...inloops, which disrupts the enumeration logic. - Compatibility: Other libraries or code may not expect changes to prototypes, leading to bugs.
- Support and debugging: It becomes harder to understand where new methods come from, especially for other developers.
Therefore, patching built-in object prototypes is considered bad practice and should be avoided, favoring composition or extension through separate functions and classes.