# The Object create() method

> Learn how JavaScript Object.create() makes an object with a prototype you choose, including null prototypes and properties defined with descriptors.

Author: [Flavio Copes](https://flaviocopes.com/about/) | Published: 2019-03-29 | Updated: 2026-07-18 | Topics: [JavaScript](https://flaviocopes.com/tags/js/) | Canonical: https://flaviocopes.com/javascript-object-create/

`Object.create()` creates a new object with the prototype you provide.

```js
const animal = {
  speak() {
    return 'Hello'
  }
}

const dog = Object.create(animal)

dog.speak() //'Hello'
Object.getPrototypeOf(dog) === animal //true
```

The properties are not copied from `animal`. JavaScript finds `speak()` by following the new object's prototype chain.

The prototype must be an object or `null`. Any other value throws a `TypeError`.

See the [MDN `Object.create()` reference](https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/JavaScript/Reference/Global_Objects/Object/create) and the [ECMAScript specification](https://tc39.es/ecma262/2026/multipage/fundamental-objects.html#sec-object.create) for the complete behavior.

## Add own properties

The optional second argument defines own properties on the new object:

```js
const dog = Object.create(animal, {
  breed: {
    value: 'Siberian Husky',
    writable: true,
    enumerable: true,
    configurable: true
  }
})

dog.breed //'Siberian Husky'
```

Each entry must be a property descriptor, like the descriptors passed to `Object.defineProperties()`.

Be careful with the defaults. If you only provide `value`, the property is not writable, enumerable, or configurable:

```js
const dog = Object.create(animal, {
  breed: {
    value: 'Siberian Husky'
  }
})

Object.keys(dog) //[]
```

## Create an object without a prototype

Pass `null` to create an object that does not inherit from `Object.prototype`:

```js
const dictionary = Object.create(null)

dictionary.javascript = 'A programming language'
Object.getPrototypeOf(dictionary) //null
```

This is useful for a simple string-keyed dictionary. It also means methods such as `toString()` and `hasOwnProperty()` are not inherited.

Use `Object.hasOwn(dictionary, 'javascript')` to check an own property.

You can combine a chosen prototype with regular enumerable properties using [`Object.assign()`](https://flaviocopes.com/javascript-object-assign/):

```js
const dog = Object.assign(Object.create(animal), {
  breed: 'Siberian Husky'
})
```