This benchmark compares three ways to access nested properties in JavaScript objects: ES6 Optional Chaining, TypeScript Optional Chaining, and Lodash's _.get() function.

ES6 Optional Chaining

• Description: In ES6, the optional chaining operator (?.) allows you to access nested properties of an object without causing a TypeError if any of the intermediate references are null or undefined. It is used as follows: obj?.a?.b?.c?.d.
• Pros:
  • Lightweight and easy to read.
  • Does not add extra overhead, unlike other methods.
  • Well-supported by modern browsers.
• Cons:
  • May be less readable for developers who are not familiar with it.

TypeScript Optional Chaining

• Description: TypeScript also supports optional chaining with the same syntax as ES6 (?.). This is used in the context of JavaScript and is often used to ensure type safety at compile time. The implementation is similar to ES6 but with some additional checks.
• Pros:
  • Provides better type checking and error messages at compile-time, making development easier.
  • Can help prevent null reference exceptions.
• Cons:
  • May have slightly higher overhead due to the need for TypeScript's type system.

Lodash _.get()

• Description: Lodash is a popular JavaScript utility library. Its _.get() function allows you to safely navigate nested object properties and returns undefined if any of the intermediate references are null or undefined. It is used as follows: _.get(obj, "a.b.c.d", 2).
• Pros:
  • Provides flexibility and safety when accessing nested objects.
  • Can handle complex object structures.
• Cons:
  • Requires including an additional library (Lodash), which may increase the bundle size.

Special JS feature or syntax

None mentioned in this benchmark, but it's worth noting that ES6 Optional Chaining was introduced to provide a safe and concise way to access nested properties without causing errors. TypeScript's support for optional chaining provides additional type safety benefits.

Other alternatives

• Other ways to access nested objects include using bracket notation (obj["a"]["b"]["c"]["d"]) or the in operator ("a" in obj && "b" in obj.a && "c" in obj.a.b && "d" in obj.a.b.c). However, these methods can be less readable and may have higher overhead compared to optional chaining.
• Some JavaScript libraries, like jQuery, provide their own way of accessing nested objects.