[].slice or Array.prototype.slice

Question

I’v come across both ways to apply Array prototypes to a native object:

arr = Array.prototype.slice.call(obj);
arr = [].slice.call(obj);

In

Answer 1

That's an interesting question! Let's pull up the pros (✔️) and cons (❌) for each alternative:

1. [].slice
   • ✔️: Is typed faster
     Two keystrokes, no shift-modifier or anything,
     your linter knows [.slice is a typo.
   • ✔️: Is read faster
     You can identify the relevant part (slice) faster.
   • ✔️: Is more popular
     56M+ snippets on GitHub (as of late 2018).
   • ✔️: Can't be overwritten
     The first part of Rob's answer demonstrates this perfectly.
   • ✔️: Runs faster.
     Wait, what? Well, that's actually the whole point of this answer.

Contrary to what you'd think and read pretty much everywhere, [].slice.call(...) does NOT instantiate a new, empty Array just to access its slice property!.

Nowadays (it has been so for 5+ years – as of late 2018), the JIT compilation (1) is included everywhere you run JavaScript (unless you're still browsing the Web with IE8 or lower).

This mechanism allows the JS Engine to: (2)

... resolve [].slice directly, and statically, as direct Array.prototype reference in one shot, and just one configurable property access: forEach

2. Array.prototype.slice

   • ❌: Is typed slower
     Typos (e.g.: Array.prorotype.slice) look fine until you try and run the code.
   • ❌: Is less popular
     8M+ snippets on GitHub (as of late 2018).

   • ❌: Runs slower
     Array.prototype.slice is: (2)

     ... a lookup for the whole scope for an Array reference until all scopes are walked 'till the global one ... because you can name a variable Array any time you want.

     Once the global scope is reached, and the native found, the engine accesses its proottype and after that its method
     ...
     O(N) scope resolution + 2 properties access (.prototype and .forEach).

   • ✔️: Allows you to seamlessly adapt to whichever coding conventions would strictly prevent you from having a line start with either (, [ or `
     Definitely a good thing.

   • ✔️: You won't have to explain why [].slice is better in pretty much every way
     Although now, that would just boil down to clicking the share link below

Answer 2

They are identical regarding functionality.

However, the Array object can be overwritten, causing the first method to fail.

//Example:
Array = {};
console.log(typeof Array.prototype.slice); // "undefined"
console.log(typeof [].slice);    // "function"

The literal method creates a new instance of Array (opposed to Array.prototype. method). Benchmark of both methods: http://jsperf.com/bbarr-new-array-vs-literal/3

When you're going to use the method many times, the best practice is to cache the method:

• var slice = Array.prototype.slice; //Commonly used
• var slice = [].slice; - If you're concerned about the existence of Array, or if you just like the shorter syntax.