What can be a side effect of modifying an object directly in JavaScript?

Modifying an object directly in JavaScript can lead to potentially impacting other references to that object because objects in JavaScript are reference types. When you assign an object to a variable, you are actually storing a reference to that object, not the object itself. Therefore, if you have multiple variables referencing the same object and you modify that object through one variable, all other references will see the changes since they all point to the same underlying data in memory.

For example, if you have an object assigned to two different variables, and you modify a property using one variable, the change will be reflected when you access that property through the other variable. This can lead to unintended consequences, especially in larger codebases where the same object may be modified by different parts of the code, potentially causing bugs and unexpected behavior.

The other options are less relevant as side effects of directly modifying an object. Creating a new object is not a side effect of modification; instead, it typically results from creating a copy or a new instance. Reducing memory usage is usually not a direct consequence of modifying an object, and in fact, modification may lead to increased memory usage if it results in additional references or properties. A void return value isn't a side effect but rather a characteristic of