Node.js
Heap snapshot
Learn heap snapshot and analysis.
Heap snapshot
A heap snapshot is a picture of all objects on the heap and the references between them at a given moment. Node.js lets you take V8's heap snapshot with --inspect. This is how you find memory leaks visually.
A heapSnapshot(objects) function models this: it turns each object's name and size into a string of the form 'name:size'. objects.map(o => o.name + ':' + o.size) transforms each object; .join(';') combines them into one string. Example: heapSnapshot([{name: 'a', size: 10}, {name: 'b', size: 20}]) returns 'a:10;b:20'. This model shows how a heap snapshot yields a list: each object is recorded with name and size. The output is deterministic.
The object list
A heap snapshot lists objects with their names and sizes. map turns each object into a 'name:size' string; join combines them. This produces a text representation of the snapshot.
Example: the array [{name: 'a', size: 10}, {name: 'b', size: 20}]. .map(o => o.name + ':' + o.size) gives ['a:10', 'b:20']. .join(';') yields 'a:10;b:20'. console.log(heapSnapshot([...])) prints a:10;b:20. A real heap snapshot holds far more data (references, types) but this model shows the essence — listing objects with sizes. The output is deterministic; the same objects always yield the same string.
Exercise Write the heap snapshot function
Write function heapSnapshot(objects). Return objects.map(o => o.name + ':' + o.size).join(';'). Print console.log(heapSnapshot([{name: 'a', size: 10}, {name: 'b', size: 20}])).
Show example solution
function heapSnapshot(objects) {
return objects.map(o => o.name + ':' + o.size).join(';');
}
console.log(heapSnapshot([{name: 'a', size: 10}, {name: 'b', size: 20}]));
Test yourself
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Complete the map call
return objects.____(o => o.name + ':' + o.size).join(';');
Show answer
return objects.map(o => o.name + ':' + o.size).join(';');
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What does heapSnapshot([{name:'a',size:10}]) return?
heapSnapshot([{name:'a',size:10}])
Show answer
'a:10' — map produces 'a:10'; join leaves a single item as is.
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Match each concept to its description
- Heap snapshot
- Picture of the heap
- map
- Transforms each object
- join
- Combines array into string
- --inspect
- Snapshot tool
Next lesson: Summary - Memory internals
