How to get name of JavaScript Class - javascript

Let's take the following example code:
var ns = {}; // Some namespace
ns.Test = function()
{
// Constructor of class Test
};
var inst = new ns.Test();
var className = hereIsTheMagic(inst); // Must return "ns.Test"
So I create a class named 'Test' in namespace 'ns' and an instance of this class named 'inst'. Now I want to find out the class name. How can I do this?
Up to now I solved this problem by giving each class a string property with the class name so I could use inst.constructor.className to access the class name. But if possible I would like to stop doing this because it is pretty error-prone when copy/pasting classes.
If there is no solution which works in all current browsers maybe there is at least some new feature in some future ECMAScript spec which provides access to class names?

JavaScript doesn't have classes, it has constructor functions and the prototype chain. Together, they can look a bit like classes, but they really aren't. :-)
No, there's no standard way that hereIsTheMagic can find the string "ns.Test" in your example, not even in ECMAScript 5. For one thing, ns.Test may not be the only property referring to that function (what if you added ns.OtherTest = ns.Test;, for instance).
JavaScript does have the concept of functions having proper names, but there's no standard way to access the proper name of a function, and even if you could, the function you're calling ns.Test is anonymous. The property you've assigned it to on ns has a name (Test), but the function does not.
You could give the function a name:
var ns = {}; // Some namespace
(function() {
ns.Test = ns_Test;
function ns_Test() {
// Constructor of class Test
}
})();
...which is a good idea, because it helps tools help you, but there's no standard way for JavaScript code itself to get at that name. (Don't do ns.Test = function ns_Test() { ... };, though. It should work, but there are various implementations of ECMAScript that have various bugs related to it. More about that in the article linked above.)
Update: I probably should have said: There are non-standard ways to get at the proper name of a function (ns_Test in my example above).
The easiest of these is the name property on function instances, which is supported by many implementations, including:
Firefox's SpiderMonkey
Chrome's V8
Opera's engine (I don't know its name)
Safari's engine (including Safari mobile)
...so alert(ns_Test.name); would alert "ns_Test". But it is non-standard and not supported by any version of JScript (Microsoft's engine), not even the version used by IE9 (now finally released!). Here's a quick tester page: http://jsbin.com/oxuva3
Note that, again that's the proper name of the function (see my example above), not the name of the property you've assigned it to.
If name isn't there, you can use toString() on the function object, which may (or may not) return a string representation of the function (e.g., "function ns_Test() { ... }"). That's completely non-standard, but common on desktop browsers; it doesn't work on several mobile browsers, and probably a bad idea in any case. :-)

Related

is there any way to create a javascript function like element.function(options)? [duplicate]

For example for this.parentNode I would like to just write this.p or instead of
document.getElementById('someid') just write document.g('someid'). Of course that are simple examples, I just want to know what is the correct way to do it.
(I know I can use jQuery or Prototype, but I'd like to learn how it is really done in JS)
Although you can prototype on the HTMLElement in many browsers - Internet Explorer (6,7,8) is NOT one of them. AFAIK, IE9 does support this (though I haven't tested it).
For browsers that do handle it, you can do:
HTMLElement.prototype.doHello = function(thing){
console.log(this + ' says: ' + thing)
}
document.body.doHello('hello')
I would strongly suggest not attempting to do this, for a few reasons:
Browser compatibility. While it is possible in several browsers, it isn't possible in IE <= 8.
DOM elements are host objects. Host objects (i.e. those provided by the environment that aren't native JavaScript objects) have no obligation to play by the same rules as native JavaScript objects and other than specified DOM behaviour can essentially do what they like. So, even if some browsers provide an HTMLElement prototype and allow you to augment it, there's no guarantee that it will work as you expect.
Compatibility with other code in your page. If any other code in your page (such as Prototype) messes with the HTMLElement prototype, you risk naming collisions and hard-to-detect bugs.
Instead, I would suggest creating wrapper objects around DOM nodes as jQuery, YUI and other libraries do.
Kangax has written a good article on DOM extensibility, covering all these points and more.
In a word, don't. It is best not to modify objects you don't own.
This is particularly true for HTMLElement, which you cannot modify in some browsers.
This article from perfectionkills.com will probably give you some insight into how it's done, and why you shouldn't do it.
(By the way, jQuery doesn't extend DOM elements. They use DOM wrappers instead.)
This might not be what you are looking for if you want to wrap a global object like document, but you can get a similar effect with custom-elements [1] [2] to create your own HTMLElement-like nodes.
create custom-element
add method to custom-element class
you can call the method
export class CustomElementInput extends HTMLElement {
log(){
alert("log")
}
// you can even overwrite methods like so
remove(){
alert("removing this node")
super.remove()
}
}
customElements.define("custom-element-input", CustomElementInput)
// somewhere else...
// in your HTML something like:
// <custom-element-input></custom-element-input>
const el = document.querySelector("custom-element-input")
el.log() // creates alert()

Correct use of the JavaScript interface keyword

First of all, no, I'm not trying to create any sort of Java-like interface for my JavaScript code. I've seen those questions all over, and while I'm still a relative novice to JavaScript, I know those aren't part of the language.
However, I'm curious what the actual intended use of the interface keyword is. For example, Math is an interface, containing definitions (but not implementations). I believe (and may be totally wrong) that these are there to provide a means for the definers of the language to enforce a set of behaviors to be implemented in various JavaScript engines. Is that correct?
Furthermore, I have a desire to have a "static class" that contains a bunch of utility methods. I like that Math.sqrt(3) has an outer namespace ('Math') which is capitalized, and a number of logically similar methods and values in it. Maybe it's just my Java/Ruby background that makes me want a capital on the grouping objects. Is that bad form?
var ShapeInspections = {
isSymmetrical: function (s) {
// determine if shape is symmetrical
},
numAngles: function (s) {
// return the number of angles
}
}
A purely contrived example, but is it anti-idiomatic to name the "module" this way?
Okay, so as with other answers, you know that the keyword interface has no real use case in Javascript world, yet.
Your Math example made me suspicous that you are talking about a design pattern, called Module Pattern, widely used for scoping Javascript code. There are many ways of making your code modular. For example just like OddDev answered you , the famous Prototype Pattern can embed your code in a modular fashion (just like your Math example). Here is the Revealing Prototype Pattern example with also private variables and functions for additional flexibility:
/* Example from:
http://www.innoarchitech.com/scalable-maintainable-javascript-modules */
var myPrototypeModule = (function (){
var privateVar = "Alex Castrounis",
count = 0;
function PrototypeModule(name){
this.name = name;
}
function privateFunction() {
console.log( "Name:" + privateVar );
count++;
}
PrototypeModule.prototype.setName = function(strName){
this.name = strName;
};
PrototypeModule.prototype.getName = function(){
privateFunction();
};
return PrototypeModule;
})();
but that is not all. Other options include Scoped module pattern, POJO module pattern and many more. Have a look at How to Write Highly Scalable and Maintainable JavaScript: Modules, it has a very simple and yet thorough set of examples.
So far, we talked about plain Javascript. If you have the ability to use libraries in your code, then amazing set of libraries such as Requirejs, CommonsJS are there to help you on this with out-of-the-box functionalities. Have a look at Addy Osmani's post about Writing Modular JavaScript With AMD, CommonJS & ES Harmony.
The interface keyword in javascript is a FutureReservedWord, so it does absolutely nothing right now, though that may change in the future specifications. (See ECMAScript 5.1, section 7.6.1.2). In the ES6 draft, this is also the same.
As for you module, this is a perfectly idiomatic solution. It is always a good idea to "namespace" your functions, as it keeps the global scope as clean as possible.
I believe (and may be totally wrong) that these are there to provide a means for the definers of the language to enforce a set of behaviors to be implemented in various JS engines. Is that correct?
No, this is not correct. Things like "Math" etc. are objects containing functions. If you use for eyample "Math.pow(...)" you just execute the function stored in the "Math" object. Check this example:
var Math = {};
Math.prototype.pow = function(){
alert("stuff");
}
var ShapeInspections = { isSymmetrical: function (s) {
// determine if shape is symmetrical }, numAngles: function (s) {
// return the number of angles } } A purely contrived example, but is it anti-idomatic to name the "module" this way?
It's okay to name your objects like this. As already discussed "Math" is also just an object and follows these naming conventions.
To make things clear for the interface keyword:
The following tokens are also considered to be FutureReservedWords
when they occur within strict mode code (see 10.1.1). The occurrence
of any of these tokens within strict mode code in any context where
the occurrence of a FutureReservedWord would produce an error must
also produce an equivalent error:
implements let private public yield
interface package protected static
It's just reserved cause it's "may" needed in the future. So don't worry too much about it :) http://www.ecma-international.org/ecma-262/5.1/#sec-7.6
Do not confuse the "interfaces" that are specified in IDL with the interface keyword.
The latter is reserved for potential future use, but is not yet actually used in ECMAScript (not even in ES6).

Generation of getters and setters in Javascript compatible with Closure Compiler

I'm writing a library that I hope to be compatible with Closure Compiler in Advanced mode. Most objects in the library maintain an internal object of attributes that are frequently part of the API, which leads to my source files being filled with lots and lots of functions like this.
/*
* Get name.
*/
Layer.prototype.getName = function() {
return this.attrs.name;
}
/*
* Set name.
*/
Layer.prototype.setName = function(name) {
this.attrs.name = name;
}
I can think of a billion ways to optimize this to declutter my code a bit. One example: KineticJS, as per this related question, does something a bit like this:
Global.addGettersSetters = function(obj, property) {
obj['get'+property] = function() { return this.attrs[property] }
obj['set'+property] = function(val) { this.attrs[property] = val }
}
// Later that day, in our original object, we have:
Global.addGettersSetters(Layer, 'name');
My understanding is that this is a no-no with Closure Compiler--the names won't be shortened and the functions won't be optimized because I'm specifying the properties of Layer as strings.
So, is there a way for me to fully and properly define the interface without cluttering up my code? Something in the Closure Library I've overlooked, perhaps?
An alternative solution: is there a way to do C#-style properties in modern JS? In a way Closure Compiler finds permissible? I have the luxury of targeting Webkit and only Webkit with this library, so stuff that's not yet fully implemented is fine.
If the getters/setters are public anyway, then you need them to not be renamed in the minified js. That means having them use strings for names is fine - they won't be minified but that's what you wanted.
Yes, modern JS has getters/setters.
You cannot dynamically add a function which could then be compiled (and minified/obfuscated) by the Closure Compiler because that dynamic "addGettersSetters" function would only be used at runtime, so the compiler has no knowledge of what it could be creating. The downside of using the compiler is a lot of duplicate pre-compiled code, but the benefit is that the majority of the places where your getters and setters are used will either be minified or just changed to inline references to the variables.
Also, by putting in explicit getters/setters and properly annotating them with JsDoc annotations:
/*
* Set name.
* #param {string} name
*/
Layer.prototype.setName = function(name) {
this.attrs.name = name;
}
you can add some level of type safety to your code to ensure you get a warning during compilation if someone calls "setName(5)".
Otherwise I would follow Chris's suggestion and look into JS getters / setters (other reference here). I have not used these with the closure compiler though so I cannot vouch for them.
Sorry, I don't get the ne8il answer and why it was marked as the correct one.
You can do what you want by just adding .prototype between obj and [ like this:
function addGettersSetters(obj, property) {
// You can also add this if you don't want to declare attrs = {} each time
// if (!("attrs" in obj.prototype)) obj.prototype.attrs = {};
obj.prototype['get'+property] = function() { return this.attrs[property] }
obj.prototype['set'+property] = function(val) { this.attrs[property] = val }
}
And also writing the property name with capital letter. Then you can use it like this:
var Layer = function() { this.attrs = {}; };
// Or just: 'var Layer = function(){};' if you use the line commented above
addGettersSetters(Layer, 'Name');
var layer = new Layer();
layer.setName("John");
alert(layer.getName()); // "John"
Not a complete answer of the original question, just adding some info.
You can see how various JavaScript OOP frameworks handle getters/setters e.g. here: jsPerf.com - JavaScript Object Oriented Libraries Benchmark with getters and setters
is there a way for me to fully and properly define the interface without cluttering up my code?
Tan Nhu (original author of the benchmark) created his own OOP library jsface which is available at: https://github.com/tnhu/jsface
I like it, I use it for exactly this reason
EDIT: how are the getters/setters generator solved in TypeScript is mentioned e.g. in SO article get and set in TypeScript
For more complete list of other frameworks and their way of encoding getters/setters you can check List of languages that compile to JS · jashkenas/coffeescript Wiki · GitHub

jQuery like custom functions

I have been wondering how I can create functions like jQuery. For example: $(ID).function()
Where ID is the id of an HTML element, $ is a function that return the document.getElementById reference of the element "ID" and function is a custom javascript function.
I'm creating a little library which implements some functions. And I want to use that sintax without using jQuery.
Now, my questions are: how I can implement that? What is the name of the tecnique that allow that?
Edit:
What I want to do is this:
HTMLElement.prototype.alertMe = function() {alert(this.value);}
Then, when I call document.getElementById('html_input_id').alertMe(), it must show an alertbox with the input value. But HTMLElement.prototype doesn't work in IE.
$ = function(id) {
return document.getElementById(id);
}
Okay, look, what you're asking has a lot of details and implications. The code for jQuery is open source, you can read it for the details; you'd do well to find a good Javascript book as well, the the O'Reilly Definitive Guide.
$ is just a character for names in JS, so as some of the other answers have shown, there's no reason you can't just write a function with that name:
var $ = function(args){...}
Since everyone and his brother uses that trick, you want to have a longer name as well, so you can mix things.
var EstebansLibrary = function(args){...}
var $ = EstebansLibrary; // make an alias
Since you end up doing different things with the entry point function, you need to know how JS uses arguments -- look up the arguments object.
You'll want to package this so that your internals don't pollute the namespace; you'll want some variant of the module pattern, which will make it something like
var EstebansLibrary = (function(){
// process the arguments object
// do stuff
return {
opname : implementation,...
}
})();
And you'll eventually want to be prepared for inheritance and that means putting those functions into the prototype object.
You can use prototype to assign a new function to the Element prototype.
Element.prototype.testFunction=function(str){alert(str)};
This would provide the function 'testFunction' to all HTML elements.
You can extend any base Object this way, i.e. Array, String etc.
This will work without any plugin at all - although that said I don't think it will work in IE. I believe libraries such as MooTools and jQquery create their own inheritance with DOM elements to ensure cross-browser compatibility, although don't quote me on that.

How to add my own methods to HTMLElement object?

For example for this.parentNode I would like to just write this.p or instead of
document.getElementById('someid') just write document.g('someid'). Of course that are simple examples, I just want to know what is the correct way to do it.
(I know I can use jQuery or Prototype, but I'd like to learn how it is really done in JS)
Although you can prototype on the HTMLElement in many browsers - Internet Explorer (6,7,8) is NOT one of them. AFAIK, IE9 does support this (though I haven't tested it).
For browsers that do handle it, you can do:
HTMLElement.prototype.doHello = function(thing){
console.log(this + ' says: ' + thing)
}
document.body.doHello('hello')
I would strongly suggest not attempting to do this, for a few reasons:
Browser compatibility. While it is possible in several browsers, it isn't possible in IE <= 8.
DOM elements are host objects. Host objects (i.e. those provided by the environment that aren't native JavaScript objects) have no obligation to play by the same rules as native JavaScript objects and other than specified DOM behaviour can essentially do what they like. So, even if some browsers provide an HTMLElement prototype and allow you to augment it, there's no guarantee that it will work as you expect.
Compatibility with other code in your page. If any other code in your page (such as Prototype) messes with the HTMLElement prototype, you risk naming collisions and hard-to-detect bugs.
Instead, I would suggest creating wrapper objects around DOM nodes as jQuery, YUI and other libraries do.
Kangax has written a good article on DOM extensibility, covering all these points and more.
In a word, don't. It is best not to modify objects you don't own.
This is particularly true for HTMLElement, which you cannot modify in some browsers.
This article from perfectionkills.com will probably give you some insight into how it's done, and why you shouldn't do it.
(By the way, jQuery doesn't extend DOM elements. They use DOM wrappers instead.)
This might not be what you are looking for if you want to wrap a global object like document, but you can get a similar effect with custom-elements [1] [2] to create your own HTMLElement-like nodes.
create custom-element
add method to custom-element class
you can call the method
export class CustomElementInput extends HTMLElement {
log(){
alert("log")
}
// you can even overwrite methods like so
remove(){
alert("removing this node")
super.remove()
}
}
customElements.define("custom-element-input", CustomElementInput)
// somewhere else...
// in your HTML something like:
// <custom-element-input></custom-element-input>
const el = document.querySelector("custom-element-input")
el.log() // creates alert()

Categories

Resources