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JavaScript•Objects, Classes, and Advanced Patterns

JavaScript Classes

ECMAScript 2015, also known as ES6, introduced JavaScript Classes. JavaScript Classes are templates for JavaScript Objects.

JavaScript Class Syntax

Use the keyword class to create a class.

Always add a method named constructor()

Syntax class ClassName {
constructor() { ... }
}

Example

class Car {
constructor(name, year) {
this.name = name;
this.year = year;
}
}
The example above creates a class named "Car".
The class has two initial properties: "name" and "year".

A JavaScript class is not an object. It is a template for JavaScript objects.

Using a Class

When you have a class, you can use the class to create objects:

Example

const myCar1 = new Car("Ford", 2014);
const myCar2 = new Car("Audi", 2019);

The example above uses the

Car class to create two

Car objects. The constructor method is called automatically when a new object is created.

The Constructor Method

The constructor method is a special method: It has to have the exact name "constructor" It is executed automatically when a new object is created

It is used to initialize object properties

If you do not define a constructor method, JavaScript will add an empty constructor method.

Class Methods

Class methods are created with the same syntax as object methods. Use the keyword class to create a class.

Always add a constructor()

method. Then add any number of methods.

Syntax class ClassName {
constructor() { ... }
method_1() { ... }
method_2() { ... }
method_3() { ... }
}
Create a Class method named "age", that returns the Car age:

Example

class Car {
constructor(name, year) {
this.name = name;
this.year = year;
}
age() {
const date = new Date();
return date.getFullYear() - this.year;
}
}
const myCar = new Car("Ford", 2014);
document.getElementById("demo").innerHTML =
"My car is " + myCar.age() + " years old.";

You can send parameters to Class methods:

Example

class Car {
constructor(name, year) {
this.name = name;
this.year = year;
}
age(x) {
return x - this.year;
}
}
const date = new Date();
let year = date.getFullYear();
const myCar = new
Car("Ford", 2014);
document.getElementById("demo").innerHTML=
"My car is
" + myCar.age(year) + " years old.";
"use strict"

Classes syntax must be written following

The "use strict" Directive. You will get an error if you do not follow the "strict mode" rules.

Example

In "strict mode" you will get an error if you use a variable without declaring it:

class Car {
constructor(name, year) {
this.name = name;
this.year = year;
}
age() {
// date = new Date();   // This will not work const date = new Date();  // This will work return date.getFullYear() - this.year;
}
}

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JavaScript Object Reference

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JavaScript Class Inheritance