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Advanced JavaScript concepts

 · 7 min · Nasir

This module will cover objects and object-oriented programming, Arrays and loops, async programming and regular expressions (RegEx).

Learn JS

Advanced JavaScript is a broad term that refers to a wide range of advanced concepts and techniques in the JavaScript programming language. These concepts are typically beyond the basics of the language and are used to create more complex and powerful applications.

Objects and Object-Oriented Programming

Object-oriented programming (OOP) is a programming paradigm that is based on the idea of “objects,” which are self-contained units of data and functionality. OOP is designed to help you organize and structure your code in a way that is logical, reusable, and easy to maintain.

Objects

In JavaScript, objects are created using the Object constructor or the object literal syntax. For example:

const obj1 = new Object();
const obj2 = {};

You can add properties and methods to an object using the dot notation or the square bracket notation:

obj1.name = "John";
obj1.age = 30;
obj1.greet = function() {
  console.log("Hello, my name is " + this.name);
};

obj2["name"] = "John";
obj2["age"] = 30;
obj2["greet"] = function() {
  console.log("Hello, my name is " + this["name"]);
};

You can access the properties and methods of an object using the same notations:

console.log(obj1.name); // Outputs "John"
obj1.greet(); // Outputs "Hello, my name is John"

console.log(obj2["name"]); // Outputs "John"
obj2["greet"](); // Outputs "Hello, my name is John"

Objects can also be nested, which means that you can have an object as a property of another object. For example:

const obj = {
  name: "John",
  age: 30,
  address: {
    street: "123 Main St",
    city: "New York",
    state: "NY"
  }
};

console.log(obj.address.city); // Outputs "New York"

Inheritance in OOP

In OOP, inheritance is the ability to create a new object that is a modified version of an existing object. Inheritance allows you to create relationships between objects and reuse code, which can make your programs more efficient and easier to maintain.

In JavaScript, you can use the Object.create method to create an object that inherits from another object. For example:

const person = {
  name: "John",
  greet: function() {
    console.log("Hello, my name is " + this.name);
  }
};

const student = Object.create(person);
student.study = function() {
  console.log("I am studying!");
};

student.greet(); // Outputs "Hello, my name is John"
student.study(); // Outputs "I am studying!"

In this example, the student object is created using the Object.create method, and it is given the person object as its prototype. This means that the student object inherits the properties and methods of the person object.

You can also use the class syntax to create objects and define inheritance in JavaScript. For example:

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

  greet() {
    console.log("Hello, my name is " + this.name);
  }
}

class Student extends Person {
  constructor(name) {
    super(name);
  }

  study() {
    console.log("I am studying!");
  }
}

const s = new Student("John");
s.greet(); // Outputs "Hello, my name is John"
s.study(); // Outputs "I am studying!"

In this example, the Student class is defined using the extends keyword, which specifies that it is a subclass of the Person class. The super keyword is used to call the constructor of the parent class.

Overall, inheritance is a powerful feature of OOP that allows you to create relationships between objects and reuse code. It can help you write more efficient and organized programs, and make your development process smoother and more productive.

Arrays and Loops

Arrays

Arrays are a data type in JavaScript that allows you to store a collection of values in a single variable. You can create an array using the array literal syntax or the Array constructor:

const arr1 = [];
const arr2 = new Array();

You can add elements to an array using the push method or the square bracket notation:

arr1.push(1);
arr1.push(2);
arr1.push(3);

arr2[0] = 1;
arr2[1] = 2;
arr2[2] = 3;

You can access the elements of an array using the square bracket notation and a zero-based index:

console.log(arr1[0]); // Outputs 1
console.log(arr1[1]); // Outputs 2
console.log(arr1[2]); // Outputs 3

console.log(arr2[0]); // Outputs 1
console.log(arr2[1]); // Outputs 2
console.log(arr2[2]); // Outputs 3

Loops

Loops are a control structure in JavaScript that allow you to execute a block of code multiple times. There are several types of loops in JavaScript, including for, while, and do/while.

The for loop is used to execute a block of code a specific number of times. It has the following syntax:

for (initialization; condition; iteration) {
  // Code to be executed
}

The while loop is used to execute a block of code repeatedly as long as a certain condition is true. It has the following syntax:

while (condition) {
  // Code to be executed
}

The do/while loop is similar to the while loop, but it always executes the block of code at least once. It has the following syntax:

do {
  // Code to be executed
} while (condition);

Arrays and loops are essential tools in JavaScript, and they are often used together to perform operations on a collection of data. By learning how to use these concepts, you can create more powerful and efficient programs in JavaScript.

Async Programming

Async programming is a programming paradigm that allows you to write code that can execute asynchronously, which means that it can run in the background without blocking the main thread. Async programming is important in JavaScript because it allows you to write code that can respond to user input and perform long-running tasks without freezing the user interface.

There are several ways to write async code in JavaScript, including callbacks, promises, and async/await.

Callbacks

Callbacks are functions that are passed as arguments to other functions and are executed when the main function is complete. For example:

function fetchData(callback) {
  setTimeout(() => {
    callback("data");
  }, 1000);
}

fetchData(function(data) {
  console.log(data); // Outputs "data" after 1 second
});

Promises

Promises are objects that represent the eventual completion or failure of an async operation. Promises have a then method that is called when the async operation is successful, and a catch method that is called when the operation fails. For example:

function fetchData() {
  return new Promise((resolve, reject) => {
    setTimeout(() => {
      resolve("data");
    }, 1000);
  });
}

fetchData()
  .then((data) => {
    console.log(data); // Outputs "data" after 1 second
  })
  .catch((error) => {
    console.error(error);
  });

Async/Await

Async/await is a syntax that allows you to write async code in a synchronous-looking style. It uses the async keyword to define an async function and the await keyword to wait for a promise to be resolved. For example:

async function fetchData() {
  const data = await new Promise((resolve, reject) => {
    setTimeout(() => {
      resolve("data");
    }, 1000);
  });
  console.log(data); // Outputs "data" after 1 second
}

fetchData();

Regular Expressions

A regular expression is a pattern that is used to match character combinations in strings. Regular expressions are commonly used to perform searches, validate data, and extract information from text.

In JavaScript, you can create a regular expression using the RegExp constructor or the regular expression literal syntax:

const regex1 = new RegExp("abc");
const regex2 = /abc/;

You can use the test method of a regular expression to check if a string contains a match:

console.log(regex1.test("abcdef")); // Outputs true
console.log(regex1.test("abxdef")); // Outputs false

console.log(regex2.test("abcdef")); // Outputs true
console.log(regex2.test("abxdef")); // Outputs false

You can use the exec method to search for a match in a string and extract the matched text:

console.log(regex1.exec("abcdef")); // Outputs ["abc"]
console.log(regex1.exec("abxdef")); // Outputs null

console.log(regex2.exec("abcdef")); // Outputs ["abc"]
console.log(regex2.exec("abxdef")); // Outputs null

Regular expressions can also include special characters and syntax to create more complex and flexible patterns. For example, you can use the * character to match zero or more occurrences of the preceding character, or the + character to match one or more occurrences:

const regex3 = /a*/;
const regex4 = /a+/;

console.log(regex3.test("")); // Outputs true
console.log(regex3.test("a")); // Outputs true
console.log(regex3.test("aaaaa")); // Outputs true
console.log(regex3.test("b")); // Outputs false

console.log(regex4.test("")); // Outputs false
console.log(regex4.test("a")); // Outputs true
console.log(regex4.test("aaaaa")); // Outputs true
console.log(regex4.test("b")); // Outputs false

Summary

Overall, advanced JavaScript is a vast and varied field, and there is always more to learn and explore. By deepening your understanding of these concepts, you can become a more proficient and capable JavaScript programmer.

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