Classes in JavaScript

In JavaScript, classes are a new feature introduced in ES6 (ES2015) that allows you to create objects using the class keyword. Classes are a template for creating objects, providing initial values for state and implementations of behavior.

In this tutorial, you will learn about classes in JavaScript with the help of examples.

Classes in JavaScript

The syntax for defining a class in JavaScript is as follows:

Class Syntax

class ClassName {
    constructor(param1, param2, ..., paramN) {
        // constructor body
    }

    method1(param1, param2, ..., paramN) {
        // method1 body
    }

    method2(param1, param2, ..., paramN) {
        // method2 body
    }

    // more methods...
}

• ClassName: It is the name of the class.
• constructor: It is a special method for creating and initializing objects created with a class. It is called when a new instance of the class is created.
• method1, method2, ..., methodN: These are the methods of the class.
• param1, param2, ..., paramN: These are the parameters of the constructor and methods.
• this: It is a reference to the current instance of the class.
• new: It is used to create a new instance of the class.
• extends: It is used to create a subclass that inherits from another class.
• super: It is used to call the constructor of the parent class.
• static: It is used to define static methods on a class.
• get: It is used to define a getter method for a property.
• set: It is used to define a setter method for a property.
• prototype: It is used to add properties and methods to the class prototype.

Classes Examples

Let's see some examples to understand how classes work in JavaScript.

Example 1: Creating a Class

The following example demonstrates how to create a class in JavaScript:

Creating a Class

class Person {
    constructor(name, age) {
        this.name = name;
        this.age = age;
    }

    greet() {
        return `Hello, my name is ${this.name} and I am ${this.age} years old.`;
    }
}

const john = new Person('John', 30);

console.log(john.greet()); // Output: Hello, my name is John and I am 30 years old.

In this example, we have defined a class Person with a constructor that initializes the name and age properties of the class. The greet method returns a greeting message with the name and age of the person.

We have created an instance of the Person class named john and called the greet method on it.

Example 2: Inheritance in Classes

The following example demonstrates how to create a subclass that inherits from another class in JavaScript:

Inheritance in Classes

class Animal {
    constructor(name) {
        this.name = name;
    }

    speak() {
        return `${this.name} makes a sound.`;
    }
}

class Dog extends Animal {
    constructor(name, breed) {
        super(name);
        this.breed = breed;
    }

    speak() {
        return `${this.name} barks loudly.`;
    }
}

const dog = new Dog('Buddy', 'Labrador');

console.log(dog.speak()); // Output: Buddy barks loudly.

In this example, we have defined a class Animal with a constructor that initializes the name property and a speak method. We have also defined a subclass Dog that inherits from the Animal class using the extends keyword.

The Dog class has its own constructor that initializes the name and breed properties and overrides the speak method to return a different message.

We have created an instance of the Dog class named dog and called the speak method on it.

Example 3: Static Methods in Classes

The following example demonstrates how to define static methods on a class in JavaScript:

Static Methods in Classes

class MathUtils {
    static add(a, b) {
        return a + b;
    }

    static subtract(a, b) {
        return a - b;
    }
}

console.log(MathUtils.add(5, 3)); // Output: 8
console.log(MathUtils.subtract(5, 3)); // Output: 2

In this example, we have defined a class MathUtils with two static methods add and subtract that perform addition and subtraction operations, respectively.

We have called the static methods directly on the class without creating an instance of the class.

📝 Note

Importent Points:

• The constructor method is a special method that is called when a new instance of the class is created.
• The this keyword is used to refer to the current instance of the class.
• The extends keyword is used to create a subclass that inherits from another class.
• Static methods are called on the class itself, not on instances of the class.
• The super keyword is used to call the constructor of the parent class.
• Getters and setters are used to define getter and setter methods for properties.
• The prototype property is used to add properties and methods to the class prototype.
• Arrow functions are not suitable for defining class methods as they do not have their own this value.
• Classes in JavaScript are syntactic sugar over the existing prototype-based inheritance model.
• Classes in JavaScript are first-class citizens and can be passed as arguments, returned from functions, and assigned to variables.
• Classes in JavaScript are not hoisted, so they must be defined before they are used.
• Classes in JavaScript can be defined in strict mode or non-strict mode.
• Classes in JavaScript can be defined in the global scope or inside a function.
• Classes in JavaScript can be defined using the class keyword or the function keyword.

Conclusion

In this tutorial, you learned about classes in JavaScript, a new feature introduced in ES6 (ES2015) that allows you to create objects using the class keyword. You also learned about constructors, methods, inheritance, static methods, and other features of classes in JavaScript.