Passing string parameter into constructor to call function

Question

I have come across this programming style where: Instead of calling an object method directly, they pass in its constructor method a string, the constructor method then check this string and call the function associate with it.

function MySimpleObject(option){
  if (typeof option === 'String'){
    pluginMethods[String].apply(this, arguments);
  }
  else {
    init();
  }
}

This seem to be used with jQuery as extend function a lot.

jQuery.fn.extend({simpleObj: MySimpleObject});

I would really appreciate if someone could enlighten me on this.

Which part are you not sure about? And shouldn't your code snippet there be pluginMethods[option].apply(this, arguments);? — Matt Burland
– Matt Burland, Commented Nov 4, 2014 at 20:59

Barmar · Accepted Answer · 2014-11-04 20:59:54Z

1

This allows the following style of programming, which is used by jQuery UI for example:

$('selector').datepicker('option', 'option-name', 'option-value');

If you call .datepicker() with no arguments or an object, it initializes the datepicker. When the first argument is a string, it's a call to a method of the datepicker. This approach is used for all the jQuery UI widgets, and is common among many other jQuery plugins as well.

answered Nov 4, 2014 at 20:59

Barmar

789k57 gold badges554 silver badges669 bronze badges

Sign up to request clarification or add additional context in comments.

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

Passing string parameter into constructor to call function

1 Answer 1

Comments

Your Answer

Linked

Hot Network Questions

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

1 Answer 1

Comments

Your Answer

Sign up or log in

Post as a guest

Linked

Related