As compiled by the JIT, `v` is a pointer. That is how it is implemented, `v` is not a copy of `{}`, it points to a location of memory that contains `{}`. A pointer is not defined as being "allowed to do arithmetic" it is defined as "points to a location in memory," no more, no less.

> In computer science, a pointer is a programming language object, whose value refers to (or "points to") another value stored elsewhere in the computer memory using its address. A pointer references a location in memory, and obtaining the value stored at that location is known as dereferencing the pointer.[1]

We are not being sloppy, in fact we are being extremely correct and precise. Pointers and dereferencing pointers might be implicit and automatic in Javascript but that does not change that a pointer to a value is being used, instead of the value itself.

Pointer arithmetic is not the same thing as pointers, it is merely something you might be able to do with pointers if the language you are using supports it. Rust calls its "symbols that reference objects" (what on earth?) pointers, even though you are unable to do pointer arithmetic on them (unless you drop to unsafe). C++ Smart Pointers are called as such even though you can't do arithmetic on them.

[1]: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pointer_%28computer_programming...