In A better javascript constructor, factory, I said factory is a better way to create object. We have seen jQuery can build a jQuery object using factory. But internally jQuery using constructor/prototype. Let me be clear about what do I mean by factory and constructor in javascript. Both factory and constructor can return build object. Factory has a return statement, but constructor has no return statement. Because of this, factory has be called with and without new, the effects are identical. Constructor has to be call with "new". It would return null reference without "new", and moreover it will run in the context of caller, sometimes the caller is global object. Good factory has no such problem, because it's designer's intention be called this way. But internally jQuery use constructor, see my post. Because constructor has use good feature : prototype. but factory can not. the demo code is as below.

function AnimalConstructor() {};
AnimalConstructor.prototype = { name: "fred" }
var an = new AnimalConstructor();
alert(an.name);
AnimalConstructor.prototype.age = 18;
alert(an.age); //show 18

function AnimalFactory() { return { name: "fred" }; };
var b = AnimalFactory();
alert(b.name);
AnimalFactory.prototype.age = 18; 
alert(b.age); //show undefined

Why, the object created by factory has no secret link to factory's prototype. The object's constructor is not the factory, in our case the object's constructor is [object Object]. So changing factory's prototype has no effect.

In article From closures to prototypes, part 1 and From closures to prototypes, part 2, there is a comparison between closure and prototype. Now it is recommended to implement a framework using constructor, prototype internally, but as facade it is more user friendly using factory, just like jQuery.