JavaScript Hard technical 1 views 1 min read

List down the collection of methods available on WeakMap

Peer-reviewed by HireXTech Technical Panel Updated for 2025/2026 hiring Editorial standards
Practise this track
Interviewer Expectations for this Question
01
Core Competency

Assesses fundamental understanding of JavaScript conventions, runtime behavior, and memory/performance considerations.

02
Evaluation Criteria

Hiring managers look for precision, avoidance of ambiguous jargon, and ability to explain trade-offs under real production conditions.

Comprehensive Model Answer Verified Solution

Below are the list of methods available on WeakMap,

  1. set(key, value): Sets the value for the key in the WeakMap object. Returns the WeakMap object.
  2. delete(key): Removes any value associated to the key.
  3. has(key): Returns a Boolean asserting whether a value has been associated to the key in the WeakMap object or not.
  4. get(key): Returns the value associated to the key, or undefined if there is none.

Let's see the functionality of all the above methods in an example,

      var weakMapObject = new WeakMap();
      var firstObject = {};
      var secondObject = {};
      // set(key, value)
      weakMapObject.set(firstObject, "John");
      weakMapObject.set(secondObject, 100);
      console.log(weakMapObject.has(firstObject)); //true
      console.log(weakMapObject.get(firstObject)); // John
      weakMapObject.delete(secondObject);
      

Candidate Response Strategy & Interview Tips

  1. Start with a concise one-sentence summary: Deliver a direct, confident answer first before expanding into nuances.
  2. Demonstrate real-world trade-offs: Discuss where this approach excels and when you would avoid it in production systems.
  3. Discuss complexity & edge cases: Proactively explain time/space complexity or boundary conditions (null values, scale limits).
  4. Prepare for interviewer follow-ups: Technical hiring panels frequently probe deeper into concurrency, backward compatibility, or alternative libraries.
Related Topics & Skills
Spotted an error or have an alternative solution?