The `typeof` operator returns `object` for both arrays and objects in vanilla JavaScript. This is because the arrays are internally treated as objects in JavaScript: ```javascript const fruits = ['Apple', 'Mango', 'Banana']; const user = { name: 'John Doe', age: 12 }; typeof fruits; // 'object' typeof user; // 'object' ``` The quickest and most **accurate way** to check if a variable is an object is by using the `Object.prototype.toString()` method. This method is part of `Object`'s prototype and returns a string representing the object: ```javascript Object.prototype.toString.call(fruits); // [object Array] Object.prototype.toString.call(user); // [object Object] ```