---
title: "object"
description: "Object creation and manipulation"
weight: 40
type: "docs"
---

The `object` function is an intrinsic (always available, no `use()` needed). It is **polymorphic** — its behavior depends on the types of its arguments.

## From a Record

### object(obj)

Shallow copy an object.

```javascript
var copy = object(original)
```

### object(obj, another)

Combine two objects.

```javascript
object({a: 1}, {b: 2})  // {a: 1, b: 2}
object({a: 1}, {a: 2})  // {a: 2}
```

### object(obj, keys)

Select specific keys.

```javascript
object({a: 1, b: 2, c: 3}, ["a", "c"])  // {a: 1, c: 3}
```

## From an Array of Keys

### object(keys)

Create object from keys (values are `true`).

```javascript
object(["a", "b", "c"])  // {a: true, b: true, c: true}
```

### object(keys, value)

Create object from keys with specified value.

```javascript
object(["a", "b"], 0)  // {a: 0, b: 0}
```

### object(keys, fn)

Create object from keys with computed values.

```javascript
object(["a", "b", "c"], (k, i) => i)  // {a: 0, b: 1, c: 2}
```

## Prototypes

### meme(prototype)

Create a new object with the given prototype.

```javascript
var animal = {speak: function() { print("...") }}
var dog = meme(animal)
dog.speak = function() { print("woof") }
```

### proto(obj)

Get an object's prototype.

```javascript
var p = proto(dog)  // animal
```

### isa(obj, prototype)

Check if prototype is in the chain.

```javascript
isa(dog, animal)  // true
```

## Serialization

### splat(obj)

Flatten an object's prototype chain into a plain object. Only includes primitive types (numbers, text, booleans, arrays, objects).

```javascript
var base = {x: 1}
var derived = meme(base)
derived.y = 2

splat(derived)  // {x: 1, y: 2}
```

When sending objects between actors with `$send`, they are automatically splatted.

## Key Iteration

```javascript
var obj = {a: 1, b: 2, c: 3}

// Get all keys
var keys = array(obj)  // ["a", "b", "c"]
```