I don't see why a host object would claim [[Class]] == "Object" -- we
have custom classes throughout our DOM, so do others, but if you want
an object whose [[Class]] == "Object", you want an instance of the one
true native Object constructor.
The issue with host objects wanting to claim [[Class]] == "Function"
was not from IE or any browser I know of (recall that IE's alert is
not a function, rather a callable object). The issue may have been a
misinterpretation of host objects to mean all those not specified in
ECMA-262, which would seem to require DOM object methods to be host
objects whose [[Class]] == "Function". But that's not the case. Either
such methods are callables that do not claim to be functions (typeof
alert == "object"), or they are in fact native Function instances.
/be
On Feb 10, 2009, at 6:15 PM, Allen Wirfs-Brock wrote:
>Mark Miller: I like your #2 direction a lot. If it were feasible to
require that host objects not even use [[Class]] "Object", I'd be in
favor. However, I'm guessing that would differ too greatly from
current browser behavior to have a chance.
That’s what I thought until I probed around a few DOM objects in IE
and Firefox and didn’t see any [object “Object”]’s. We probably
need the browser experts to tells whether or not it is common
practice to use [[Class]]==”Object” for host objects but a casual
inspection looked promising.
From: Mark S. Miller [mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: Tuesday, February 10, 2009 6:01 PM
To: Allen Wirfs-Brock
Cc: Mark Miller; Brendan Eich; es-discuss
Subject: Re: [[Class]] and host objects
2009/2/10 Allen Wirfs-Brock <[email protected]>
Mark Miller said: We can get the effect of specifying such
indistinguishability simply by specifying that host objects may have
as their [[Class]] property "Object", or any string not otherwise
used by the spec as a [[Class]] value.
I generally agree, but I have two "what about's" that actually go in
different directions from each other.
#1 What about "Function" in addition to "Object"? It seems
reasonable to have host objects that are functions in addition host
objects that are objects. (Counter-argument: slippery slope)
#2 Why allow "Object" for host objects that are required to conform
to the section 15.3 specification for Object. If they are
distinguishable from section 15.3 objects they should have
[[Class]]=="Object". An implementation can use "HostObject" or
something else. (Counter-argument: Might confuse some programmers???
(seems weak))
I like your #2 direction a lot. If it were feasible to require that
host objects not even use [[Class]] "Object", I'd be in favor.
However, I'm guessing that would differ too greatly from current
browser behavior to have a chance.
--
Cheers,
--MarkM
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