Difference between an Object and its Prototype

Question

Why does:

console.log(Object.hasOwnProperty("hasOwnProperty"));

return a false, But:

console.log(Object.prototype.hasOwnProperty("hasOwnProperty"));

return a true statement?

I realize that hasOwnProperty is a pre-built method in the Object but I guess my question is what is the difference between the Object and the prototype of an Object.
Aren't they one and the same?
When we refer to the Object in the first line of code, aren't we referring to the same line of code in the second line of code above?

EDIT: fixed above 2 lines of code from:

console.log(Object.hasOwnProperty);

and:

console.log(Object.prototype.hasOwnProperty);

Since hasOwnProperty is a function, I don't see how you can be getting true or false on the console... can you provide some complete code that demonstrates what you're seeing? — Dancrumb
Umm, neither of them should log a Boolean, but the same function? — Bergi
FWIW: Object.prototype.hasOwnProperty === Object.hasOwnProperty is true — Dancrumb
I aplogize my code should have read: console.log(Object.hasOwnProperty("hasOwnProperty")); console.log(Object.prototype.hasOwnProperty("hasOwnProperty")); — Moolla

Šime Vidas Šime Vidas · Accepted Answer · 2013-02-11T17:53:03

Both Object.hasOwnProperty and Object.prototype.hasOwnProperty reference the same function. Object.prototype contains that function as an own property, while Object contains it as an inherited property.

So, in other words, the hasOwnProperty function is defined (as a method) on the Object.prototype object. Then, the Object constructor (like almost all other native objects) inherits (all methods) from Object.prototype.

Btw, the inheritance chain (prototype chain) of Object is:

Object -> Function.prototype -> Object.prototype -> null

So, Object inherits all methods from both Function.prototype, and Object.prototype.

Difference between an Object and its Prototype

2 Answers