--- title: "Typed object handles · baby steps" url: https://daily.dev/posts/typed-object-handles-baby-steps-k5sh72pjz source_url: https://smallcultfollowing.com/babysteps/blog/2013/10/18/typed-object-handles type: article source: "Niko Matsakis - baby steps" published: 2026-05-31T07:54:02.028Z updated: 2026-05-31T09:11:40.915Z tags: ["javascript", "architecture"] reading_time: 18 upvotes: 0 comments: 0 language: en --- > ## Documentation Index > Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://daily.dev/llms.txt > Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further. # Typed object handles · baby steps **[Niko Matsakis - baby steps](https://daily.dev/sources/babysteps)** · 18 min read · 0 upvotes · 0 comments ## Summary A deep-dive into the design of typed object handles in a proposed JavaScript API. Handles are movable pointers into typed data structures that enable zero-allocation iteration loops and serve as 'out pointers' for efficient array construction. The post explores subtle design constraints including nullability, the ability for anyone to move a handle (a potential footgun), and how handles differ from typed objects. Three design alternatives are evaluated: keeping handles with nullability embraced, keeping handles but removing movability, or dropping handles in favor of opaque typed object views. The author ultimately argues for option 1, citing that nullability is already a JS reality, nullable handles enable revocable capability-based memory access, and avoiding allocation is especially important in parallel execution contexts. ## Full article daily.dev links to this article rather than hosting it. Read it at the original source: ## Similar posts on daily.dev - [We need \(at least\) ergonomic, explicit handles · baby steps](https://daily.dev/posts/we-need-at-least-ergonomic-explicit-handles-baby-steps-jwf74lz5w) · Lobsters · 1 upvotes · 0 comments - [The Handle trait · baby steps](https://daily.dev/posts/the-handle-trait-baby-steps-vfn0aqlz1) · Lobsters · 1 upvotes · 0 comments --- Tags: [#javascript](https://daily.dev/tags/javascript), [#architecture](https://daily.dev/tags/architecture) [View this post on daily.dev](https://daily.dev/posts/typed-object-handles-baby-steps-k5sh72pjz)