andPrototype

andPrototype is a coined term used in discussions of prototype-based object design to describe a pattern for composing behavior by combining multiple prototypes under an and logic. In this approach, a new object is formed that exposes the properties and methods of all included prototypes, enabling feature composition without committing to a single inheritance chain. The term emphasizes a conjunction of capabilities rather than a hierarchical relationship.

Implementation typically involves a helper function or factory that accepts two or more prototypes and returns an object whose property lookup and method dispatch consider the members of all prototypes. Different languages adopt different conflict policies: for data properties, a defined merge or a last-wins rule; for methods, a priority order or multimethod-like dispatch. Some implementations use proxies, delegation, or mixin-like composition to preserve separate prototypes while providing a unified interface.

Use cases include constructing objects with modular features, such as a user interface component that combines draggable and resizable behaviors or an entity that includes physics and rendering capabilities without forming a rigid inheritance structure. It is commonly contrasted with classical multiple inheritance and with simple mixins, offering a flexible alternative in prototype-based languages.

Limitations include potential property conflicts, ambiguity about which prototype supplies a given member, and possible performance costs due to delegation chains. Clear conventions and documentation are important to avoid confusion when applying andPrototype in a codebase.

See also: mixins, composition over inheritance, prototype-based programming, delegation, multiple inheritance (where available).