Correct way to create a plugin

Asked Jul 13 '16 at 13:55

Active Jul 14 '16 at 13:18

Viewed 83 times

I'm creating a plugin for JavaScript, and I want to add usable methods to it. (ex. myPlugin.usefulMethod()) The way I would do it is as follows:

function MyPlugin(param1, param2) {
    ...

    this.usefullMethod = function() {...};

    this.anotherUserfullMethod = function(someParam) {...};
}

var plugin1 = new MyPlugin(someParam1, someParam2);
plugin1.usefullMethod();

But I've see a lot of plugin create their methods like this:

function MyPlugin(param1, param2) {
    ...
}
MyPlugin.prototype.usefullMethod = function() {...};

MyPlugin.prototype.anotherUserfullMethod = function(someParam) {...};

Which is the correct way, and why? What's the difference between them?

edited Jul 14 '16 at 13:18

asked Jul 13 '16 at 13:55

Horay

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http://stackoverflow.com/questions/8433459/js-why-use-prototype – BenG Jul 13 '16 at 13:59
2

Better use the term 'module' instead of a 'plugin'. – le_m Jul 13 '16 at 13:59
reference link http://stackoverflow.com/questions/310870/use-of-prototype-vs-this-in-javascript – GeekPlux Jul 13 '16 at 13:59
@BenG Thanks! So it's basically saying to use `MyPlugin.prototype` because it's faster. Correct? – Horay Jul 13 '16 at 14:03
A third option is to use an IIFE instead of the prototype. I personally prefer this one because prototypes give me headaches. – 4castle Jul 13 '16 at 14:10
@4castle Thanks! I know what IIFE is, but I don't quite understand how it can be used instead of prototype. – Horay Jul 13 '16 at 14:13
@Horay Declare the functions in the IIFE, and then in the function that you return, assign `this.usefulMethod = usefulMethod;` – 4castle Jul 13 '16 at 14:14
@janje Thanks! If I use prototype, then how can I use the local variables? – Horay Jul 13 '16 at 23:01
@Horay you use `this` when you NEED to access local variables. – ahitt6345 Jul 13 '16 at 23:11
@ahitt6345 Meaning, the variable I want to access in prototype, I do `this.myVar = 'something';`? – Horay Jul 14 '16 at 12:45
@Horay If you want to store a variable in the prototype, you need to do `MyPlugin.prototype.myVar = 'something';` – ahitt6345 Jul 15 '16 at 16:17

Correct way to create a plugin

0 Answers0