How to use class functions in another class? - node.js

Question

How can i use class instance in another class like a pointer in C++ to class instance functions?
Example:
class A {
constructor()
{
this.block = [];
}
method()
{
return this.blocks.length;
}
}
another class:
class B {
constructor(instance)
{
this.instance = instance;
}
method()
{
this.instance.method(); // here i'm getting cannot get length of undefined
}
}
If i'm trying to to like that i'm getting problems to call it

Answer 1

You can try this. Here, when creating B class's instance I give into it an A class's instance as argument. Then inside B we can call A instance's methods, and access its properties.
Also, as #ViaTech posted you can use static methods to access them without needing to initialize an object of the class. That is what static methods is. Refer Static Methods
class B {
constructor(instance)
{
this.instance = instance;
}
method()
{
this.instance.method();
}
}
class A {
constructor()
{
}
method()
{
console.log("A's method");
}
}
var a = new A();
var b = new B(a);
b.method(); // A's method

Answer 2

You can easily do this in JS by calling a static method like so:
class A {
static write(){ //static method
console.log("Called write from A");
}
}
class B {
doIt(){
A.write();
}
}
let b = new B();
b.doIt();
Option 2, you instantiate the class in the constructor of the other like so:
class A {
write(){
console.log("Non-static write() called from class A");
}
}
class B {
constructor() {
this.a = new A();
}
doIt(){
this.a.write();
}
}
let b = new B();
b.doIt();

Answer 3

There are a few ways:
I accidentally switched between PHP and Javascript, but the principles are the same for both)
Use static functions:
Normally, you have a this in the class. Say you have this code:
class Car {
let color;
public function setColor(newColor){ this.color = newColor;}
}
let car = new Car();
car->setColor('green')`
The setColor function's this refers to that car. You can make let anotherCar = new Car(), then when you do anotherCar->setColor('red') you only change that car, not the first one. Simplistic: You can create multiple instances.
If you do not need that, but need the class once, you can make it static. A simple way to explain would be "you have a collection of seperate functions, just put into a wrapping class (which doesn't do a lot really)". For instance, you might have some sanatizing methods:
class Sanitize {
static function makeHtmlSave(input){
return doYourMagicHere(input);
}
static function removeXssCode(input){
return doMoreMagicHere(input);
}
}
This way, you can reuse it multiple times. If you want to use it, you do Sanitize::makeHtmlSave(someCode) where you need it. There isn't a Sanitize thing, it's just a wrapper to access the frunctions inside it.
Use extend:
You can extend a class. Say you have a generic class Vehicle, which has some properties (eg a motor, numberWeels, color) and you can extend that with more specific classes:
class Vehicle {
let color;
public function setColor(newColor){ this.color = newColor}
}
class Car extends Vehicle {
let hasAirco = false;
public function hasAirco(newValue){ this.hasAirco = newValue};
}
If you do let car = new Car(), you get a Car object, that extends/enlarges/complements the Vehicle class, so you can use both its (public) functions. Internally, Car can use the functions of Vehicle too.
Just pass it
class One {
// some stuff
}
class Two{
let otherObject;
construct(givenObject){
this.otherObject = givenObject;
}
}
You can now do this let a = new One(); let b = new Two(a);. You can not use the functions of One inside Two, but you can still use a->doSomething(). This solution feels like the easiest, but it almost never is. Classes/objects are tricky stuff, but I've rarely uses this solutions. There are use cases, but often it's a bad smell indicator.