eolas/Data_Structures/Patterns/Module_pattern.md
2022-07-02 19:30:04 +01:00

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---
tags:
- Data_Structures
- patterns
- oop
---
# Module pattern
> Come back and compare this with learning from Node.js
With the module design pattern we create encapsulation: the variables and functions (as methods) are kept private inside the module and cannot be overwritten. This design pattern is familiar from Node.js development: every package you import into your project and download from NPM is a module.
Generally you will create the module as a class, import it and then instantiate a new instance. However for private development, you could just as well use an object and duplicate it with `Object.create`.
## Example
Here is an example of a simple module that returns the age of a person.
```js
export default class Age {
constructor(name, birthYear) {
this.name = name;
this.birthYear = birthYear;
}
currentYear() {
return new Date().getFullYear();
}
get age() {
return this.currentYear() - this.birthYear;
}
}
```
```js
const martha = new Age('Martha', 1997);
console.log(martha.age) // 24
```
## Controlling access
In the example above, `aValue` could be edited in instantiations of the class. Given that modules should not be overwrittable, you could make it a private property on the class. The benefit of getters and setters is that they dictate what can be modified and retrieved from the module. So if you use `get` and `set` you can prevent overwrites.
## Object modules
If you want to use an object instead of a class, you have to take greater care to ensure that the objects are not overwritable. **Also you cannot use the `#` modifier to make properties private.**
- Use getters and setters for updating and retrieving values
- Use `Object.seal` to prevent changes to the parent object
- Instead of using getters and setters, for individual properties you can set `writable` to be `false` for properties that you don't want changed
There are examples of each in the following:
```jsx
export const age = {
name: '',
birthYear: new Number(),
currentYear() {
return new Date().getFullYear();
},
get age() {
return this.currentYear() - this.birthYear;
},
};
Object.seal(age);
Object.defineProperty(age, 'aValue', {
value: 6,
writable: false,
});
```