List down the collection of methods available on WeakMap
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,
set(key, value): Sets the value for the key in theWeakMapobject. Returns theWeakMapobject.delete(key): Removes any value associated to the key.has(key): Returns a Boolean asserting whether a value has been associated to the key in theWeakMapobject or not.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
- Start with a concise one-sentence summary: Deliver a direct, confident answer first before expanding into nuances.
- Demonstrate real-world trade-offs: Discuss where this approach excels and when you would avoid it in production systems.
- Discuss complexity & edge cases: Proactively explain time/space complexity or boundary conditions (null values, scale limits).
- Prepare for interviewer follow-ups: Technical hiring panels frequently probe deeper into concurrency, backward compatibility, or alternative libraries.