I'm new to JavaScript, currently learning classes.
I made a simple class that creates a square with a random size and color:
class Square {
constructor(maxSize = 150, minSize = 50) {
this.maxSize = maxSize;
this.minSize = minSize;
this.size = this.setRandomSize();
this.color = this.randomColor();
}
createShape() {
const square = document.createElement('div');
square.classList.add('square');
document.body.appendChild(square);
square.style.cssText = `
width: ${this.size}px;
height: ${this.size}px;
background-color: ${this.color};
`;
}
randomNumber(max, min = 0) {
return Math.floor(Math.random() * (max - min) + min);
}
setRandomSize() {
return this.randomNumber(this.maxSize, this.minSize);
}
randomColor() {
return `hsla(${this.randomNumber(360)}, 50%, 40%, .7)`;
}
}
new Square().createShape();
As you can see in the code above, I've a 2 methods randomNumber and setRandomColor that don't use any instance or method properties.
I'm wondering what is the recommended approach or benefits (apart from portability) between having these functions inside or outside the class (as showed below). In other words, is it recommended to keep inside the class methods that are intrinsically related to the object only (code block 2) or methods that allow the class to work as a "stand alone" (code block 1)?
class Square {
constructor(maxSize = 150, minSize = 50) {
this.maxSize = maxSize;
this.minSize = minSize;
this.size = this.setRandomSize();
this.color = randomColor();
}
createShape() {
const square = document.createElement('div');
square.classList.add('square');
document.body.appendChild(square);
square.style.cssText = `
width: ${this.size}px;
height: ${this.size}px;
background-color: ${this.color};
`;
}
setRandomSize() {
return randomNumber(this.maxSize, this.minSize);
}
}
function randomNumber(max, min = 0) {
return Math.floor(Math.random() * (max - min) + min);
}
function randomColor() {
return `hsla(${randomNumber(360)}, 50%, 40%, .7)`;
}
new Square().createShape();
I have had similar confusion when I started to learn programming. Since it is class, I would like to highlight SOLID here.
Single Responsible : A class should do one thing. Does your class's job is creating random number? You created the class because you wanted a Square, not a random size generator.
Also, if you put the functions outside of the class and use it there, your class will be coupled with those functions. What will you do if you need use rgb color instead of hsla? Another class? So less coupling will increase your class's quality.
So how I would write the class?
class Square {
constructor(size, color){
this.size = size;
this.color = color;
this.square = document.createElement('div');
this.square.classList.add('square');
document.body.appendChild(this.square);
this.square.style.cssText = `
width: ${this.size}px;
height: ${this.size}px;
background-color: ${this.color};
`;
}
}
function randomNumber(max, min = 0) {
return Math.floor(Math.random() * (max - min) + min);
}
function randomColor() {
return `hsla(${randomNumber(360)}, 50%, 40%, .7)`;
}
const size = randomNumber(100, 50)
const color = randomColor()
const mySquare = new Square(size, color)