A DEV Community guide explains how to build a performant Queue data structure in JavaScript, contrasting the native Array approach with a custom Object-based implementation. While arrays are simple, their shift() method causes O(n) reindexing, creating a performance bottleneck for large datasets.

The core issue is that removing an element from an array's start requires moving all subsequent items. For a queue of 100,000 items, this means 99,999 operations per dequeue. The guide presents an object-based class that tracks a `lowestCount` pointer, achieving O(1) constant-time operations for both enqueue and dequeue.

Benchmarks show a dramatic difference: at 100,000 items, the array queue takes over 3.5 seconds, while the object queue finishes in 8.9 milliseconds. The recommendation is clear: use arrays for small queues where simplicity and V8's Fast Elements optimizations win, but switch to the object pattern for high-load systems to avoid crippling slowdowns.