On Jan 10, 2015, at 5:04 AM, Prabhash Rathore <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> Based on your replies, I think this is the best way to represent a data
> object as it's just data and object can represent this data:
> module.exports = {
>
> name
> : '';
>
> department
> : '';
> }
> However I have noticed people using function() to create data objects and
> then they just return an object inside the function (see below example)? Is
> there any specific use case or reason on using function instead of using just
> object literal?
It depends on what it is you want your module to offer. Say the module provides
a bunch of utility functions. Then you may just choose to export each function
and be done:
str_utils.js:
exports.uncamelcase = function(str) { …. };
exports.is_palindrome = function(str) { …. };
exports.is_numeric = function(str) { …. };
Then someone can use it thus:
var str_utils = require(‘str_utils’);
if( str_utils.is_palindrome(person_name) === true )
console.log(“Well, aren’t you special!”);
On the other hand, if your module returns a constructor/class to be used for
instantiating new objects, then you may wish to do this:
module.exports = Car;
function Car(name, cost, mpg, alternative)
{
this.name = name;
this.cost = cost;
this.env_damage = mpg;
this.alternative = alternative;
}
Car.prototype.appeal =
function()
{
return(this.cost/this.mpg);
};
Car.prototype.snark =
function()
{
return(this.alternative.advise());
};
Then someone could:
var Car = require(‘car’);
var metro = require(‘metro’);
var new_car = new Car(‘Hummer’, 80000, 2, metro);
if( new_car.appeal() > 700 )
console.log(“Congratulations on your fancy”, new_car.name, “but”,
new_car.snark());
Etc. Keep in mind the part played by require/module caching (if you return an
object, it will be cached and returned from the cache at the next require —
this may or may not be what you want: I use it as a way to load dependencies
without passing them around).
—ravi
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