Family = function(name) {
this._Name = name;
}
Family.prototype = {
getName: function() {
return this._Name;
},
People: function(num) {
this._Number = num;
}
}
Family.People.prototype = {
clearNumber: function() {
this._Number = 0;
}
}
People is a nested class. Its parent class is Family.
I get the error that Family.People is undefined. Could someone correct the code above?
// function doesn't need "new" operator
var Family = function(name) { this._Name = name; };
Family.prototype = {
getName: function() { return this._Name; }, // missing comma
People: function(num) {
this._Number = num;
}
};
// work with prototypes
Family.prototype.People.prototype = {
clearNumber: function() { this._Number = 0; }
};
This will work. But you have to be aware, that when you call:
var f = new Family("Doe");
f.People is just an object constructor, and not an instance of some other object. You will have to instantiate it as well like:
f.members = new f.People(3);
Sou you have a constructor within your instance which is rather confusing.
So it would probably be better if you'd write your prototypes this way:
var Family = function(name) {
this._Name = name;
this.getName = function() { return this._Name; };
};
Family.People = function(num) {
this._Number = num;
this.clearNumber = function() { this._Number = 0; };
};
This actually makes a class within a class (and not within instances). So upper lines would be called this way:
var f = new Family("Doe");
f.members = new Family.People(3);
Drill down of f instance would look like:
f
_Name
getName()
members
_Number
clearNumber()
var Family = function(name) {
var _name = name;
this.getName = function() { return _name; };
};
Family.People = function(num) {
var _num = num;
this.getNumber = function() { return _num; }
this.clearNumber = function() { _num = 0; };
};
This way we make variables private and only accessible within so they can't be manipulated outside. You must always use functions to manipulate them. This makes it more robust especially when there are certain business rules related to variable values.
var f = new Family("Doe");
f._name; // this is undefined because "_name" is private closure variable
Drill down of f instance would now look more like a class object instance:
f
getName()
members
getNumber()
clearNumber()
name and num if desired, to preserve encapsulation. Just refer to them directly and remove the assignment lines.
Notice that you are assigning to Family.prototype.People then trying to access Family.People.
Family is not an instance of Family thus it does not have the properties of that class - Family is an instance of Function thus you are trying to access Function.prototype.People in that 3rd statement. (this is a bit of a simplification)
i.e. what you want to be doing is
Family.prototype.People.prototype = {
clearNumber:function(){this._Number = 0;}
}
You are also missing a comma before people, but I assume this is a typo...
var x = new Family('myName').Family.People.ClearNumber(); How do i do it properly.
Family.prototype.Family so that would be undefined... what you want to call is var x = new Family('myName').People.ClearNumber();You should declare the People constructor as a key in the Family object:
Family.People = function(num) {
this._Number = num;
}
The Family prototype will be in the prototype chain for new objects of type Family; not a part of Family itself.
Family = new function(...) {...}.newis used for object construction; in this case you just wantFamily = function(...) {...}