var foo = {}; mutate1( foo ); // should be included [ 'a', 'b', 'c' ].forEach( function ( letter, i ) { foo[ letter ] = i; }); [ 'd', 'e', 'f' ].forEach( ( letter, i ) => { foo[ letter ] = i; }); function mutate1 ( obj ) { obj.mutated = 1; } console.log( foo );