When implementing the module pattern, how do private functions access the private properties of the module? I haven't seen any examples where developers do this. Is there any reason not to?
var module = (function(){
// private property
var number = 0;
// private method
_privateIncrement = function(){
// how do I access private properties here?
number++;
};
// public api
return {
// OK
getNumber: function(){
return number;
},
// OK
incrNumber: function(){
number++;
},
// Doesn't work. _privateIncrement doesn't have
// access to the module's scope.
privateIncrNumber: function(){
_privateIncrement();
}
};
})();
When implementing the module pattern, how do private functions access the private properties of the module?
The properties are in scope, so they "just do"
Doesn't work.
Yes, it does.
_privateIncrement
doesn't have access to the module's scope.
Yes, it does.
See live example of the following:
var module = (function(){
// private property
var number = 0;
// global method
_privateIncrement = function(){
number++;
};
// public api
return {
// OK
getNumber: function(){
return number;
},
// OK
incrNumber: function(){
number++;
},
// Does work!
privateIncrNumber: function(){
_privateIncrement();
}
};
})();
// Show default value
document.body.innerHTML += (module.getNumber());
// Increment
module.privateIncrNumber();
// Show new value
document.body.innerHTML += (module.getNumber());
// Increment (since _privateIncrement was defined as a global!)
_privateIncrement();
// Show new value
document.body.innerHTML += (module.getNumber());
// Output: 012
One alternative to have private methods with access to the this
is by using the call
or apply
methods.
function Restaurant()
{
this.mongoose = 'beans';
this.freedom = {bear:'love',a:'12'};
var myPrivateVar;
var private_stuff = function() // Only visible inside Restaurant()
{
myPrivateVar = "I can set this here!";
this.mongoose = 12;
}
this.use_restroom = function() // use_restroom is visible to all
{
private_stuff();
}
this.buy_food = function() // buy_food is visible to all
{
private_stuff();
}
private_stuff.call(this);
}
var bobbys = new Restaurant();
Of course you would move the use_restroom and buy_food to a prototype and private_stuff outside of the constructor if you were planning on having multiple instances of this object.