How JavaScript Prototype-Based Inheritance Actually Works

Unlike class-based languages such as Java or C#, JavaScript uses prototype-based inheritance, where objects inherit properties and methods directly from other objects via an internal link called [[Prototype]]. Every object holds a [[Prototype]] reference pointing to its prototype, forming a chain through which properties and methods are looked up at runtime. For example, all arrays link to Array.prototype, which itself links to Object.prototype, with the chain ending at null. Three key roles make up this prototype chain: the constructor function, its .prototype property, and the instances created from it. Understanding this distinction helps clarify why static methods on constructor functions are not accessible to their instances.