Storing values of properties in variables for quick access in Javascript

I have a straightforward read-only JSON object with several properties. I am contemplating whether it would be beneficial to store these properties in variables for caching purposes. Currently, we access them using syntax like jsonObject.someProperty. The alternative option I am considering is to cache them into variables like

var somePropertyValue = jsonObject.someProperty;
and then utilize that variable for all subsequent references.

Answer №1

When considering the "worth" of this issue, it all depends on your perspective.

Caching properties may provide some potential performance improvements if the same property is used repeatedly, but unless you are looping through thousands of times, the difference may not be noticeable to the user.

However, caching properties can enhance the aesthetics of your code. For example, if you find yourself referencing the same property multiple times within a specific block of code, caching it at the start could streamline the process - especially in cases involving nested objects like this:

jsonObject.nestedObject.doSomething();
jsonObject.nestedObject.doAnotherThing();
alert(jsonObject.nestedObject.someProperty);

//compared with:
var nObj = jsonObject.nestedObject;
nObj.doSomething();
nObj.doAnotherThing();
alert(nObj);

I personally believe that the latter method is more efficient and easier to read (assuming the variable nObj is given a more descriptive name, although this is just a general example).

On the other hand, I do not recommend caching properties in global variables for widespread use throughout your codebase. It's best practice to limit global variables for various reasons, such as avoiding conflicts with external libraries and preventing obscure bugs caused by multiple functions modifying the same variable. Instead, opt for caching within individual functions that heavily utilize a specific property - keep in mind that JavaScript has function scope, not block scope. (If a particular function frequently references a certain property, consider making it an argument for cleaner code.)

P.S. In JavaScript, there are no JSON objects, only objects.

Answer №2

The efficiency of accessing jsonObject depends on its storage location and the number of scope steps away from its usage.

For example, in the scenario below, each time jsonObject.prop is called, the code searches through 6 different scopes before locating jsonObject.

var jsonObject = { ... };

(function() {
    (function() {
        (function() {
            (function() {
               (function() {
                    jsonObject.prop ...;
                    jsonObject.prop ...;
                })();
             })();
         })();
    })();
})();

If the property is accessed multiple times within the innermost function, it is beneficial to create a local reference for it.

var jsonObject = { ... };

(function() {
    (function() {
        (function() {
            (function() {
               (function() {
                    var prop = jsonObject.prop;
                })();
             })();
         })();
    })();
})();

By creating a local reference, the code minimizes the effort required to retrieve the value after the initial access.

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