What techniques can be used to define a class in JavaScript, and what are their trade-offs?

Question

I prefer to use OOP in large scale projects like the one I\'m working on right now. I need to create several classes in JavaScript but, if I\'m not mistaken, there are at le

Answer 1

You probably want to create a type by using the Folding Pattern:

    // Here is the constructor section.
    var myType = function () {
        var N = {}, // Enclosed (private) members are here.
            X = this; // Exposed (public) members are here.

        (function ENCLOSED_FIELDS() {
            N.toggle = false;
            N.text = '';
        }());

        (function EXPOSED_FIELDS() {
            X.count = 0;
            X.numbers = [1, 2, 3];
        }());

        // The properties below have access to the enclosed fields.
        // Careful with functions exposed within the closure of the
        // constructor, each new instance will have it's own copy.
        (function EXPOSED_PROPERTIES_WITHIN_CONSTRUCTOR() {
            Object.defineProperty(X, 'toggle', {
                get: function () {
                    var before = N.toggle;
                    N.toggle = !N.toggle;
                    return before;
                }
            });

            Object.defineProperty(X, 'text', {
                get: function () {
                    return N.text;
                },
                set: function (value) {
                    N.text = value;
                }
            });
        }());
    };

    // Here is the prototype section.
    (function PROTOTYPE() {
        var P = myType.prototype;

        (function EXPOSED_PROPERTIES_WITHIN_PROTOTYPE() {
            Object.defineProperty(P, 'numberLength', {
                get: function () {
                    return this.numbers.length;
                }
            });
        }());

        (function EXPOSED_METHODS() {
            P.incrementNumbersByCount = function () {
                var i;
                for (i = 0; i < this.numbers.length; i++) {
                    this.numbers[i] += this.count;
                }
            };
            P.tweak = function () {
                if (this.toggle) {
                    this.count++;
                }
                this.text = 'tweaked';
            };
        }());
    }());

That code will give you a type called myType. It will have internal private fields called toggle and text. It will also have these exposed members: the fields count and numbers; the properties toggle, text and numberLength; the methods incrementNumbersByCount and tweak.

The Folding Pattern is fully detailed here: Javascript Folding Pattern