Greetings! Today, we're revisiting JavaScript classes, the core building block of Object-Oriented Programming (OOP) in JavaScript. Through hands-on examples, we'll revisit the fundamental concepts of JavaScript classes, including their structure, properties, and methods.
Let's begin with a refresher on JavaScript classes. Essential to OOP, JavaScript classes bundle relevant data and functions into compact units called objects. Consider a video game character, which is a typical example of a class instance, with specific properties (such as health
or strength
) and methods (such as attack
or defense
).
JavaScript classes facilitate the grouping of associated code elements, simplifying their management. Now, to better remind ourselves how the above example works, let's go through it step-by-step.
A JavaScript class serves as a blueprint consisting of properties and methods. While properties represent data relevant to a class instance, methods are actions or functions that manipulate this data. Each class includes a constructor
function, which is used to define class properties.
An essential keyword within these methods is this
, which represents the class instance. In object-oriented programming, it's needed to access the class's properties and methods. When a new class instance is created, JavaScript automatically passes it to the this
parameter to access individual instance properties and methods using the this
keyword. This mechanism allows each object to keep track of its own state and behaviors.
Properties in JavaScript classes hold data associated with each class instance. For example, in our GameCharacter
class, name
, health
, and strength
are properties. You can access a class property using the object of the class, followed by a dot (.
), and then the property name.
Properties differentiate one class instance from another and store the state of the instance.
A class also contains methods — actions or functions that manipulate the data in the class. For example, the attack
method in our GameCharacter
class simulates an attack by one game character on another.
To deepen our understanding of JavaScript classes, let's explore another example where we build a basic BankAccount
class. This class will demonstrate how we can model real-world entities using object-oriented programming by defining properties like the account holder's name and balance, and methods for depositing and withdrawing money.
This example further illustrates how classes effectively encapsulate data (properties) and functionalities (methods), enabling us to mimic real-life scenarios. Here, the BankAccount
class allows the creation of objects representing bank accounts, emphasizing the powerful organizational benefits of using classes in JavaScript.
Great work revisiting JavaScript classes, their properties, and methods. JavaScript classes help organize your code, improving its readability and manageability. Now, test your understanding with exercise problems to solidify your newly refreshed knowledge. Happy coding!
