Weak Map

Definitions

1. A key-value collection (in JavaScript and similar languages) where keys must be objects and are held via weak references, meaning entries are automatically garbage-collected when no other references to the key exist — useful for associating metadata with objects without preventing their cleanup.

   In plain English: A special dictionary where entries disappear automatically when nothing else in the program is using the key anymore.

   Example: "We use a WeakMap to cache computed layouts keyed by DOM nodes — when a node is removed from the DOM, its cache entry gets GC'd automatically."

Related Terms

• Swap
• heap
• Isomorphic
• JSON Pointer
• Linked List
• Random Access
• Slice
• Sparse Array
• Stack Frame
• Weak Set
• Cyclic Reference