Class, extends and super in JavaScript

Classes were introduced to JavaScript in ECMAScript 2015. Even though it was about 5 years ago, I still want to drop a quick note about this feature.

N.B. JavaScript classes does not introduce a new object-oriented inheritance model. All in all they are primarily syntactical sugar over existing prototype-based inheritance.

To declare a class we can use the class keyword:

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

The body of a class is executed in strict mode.

The constructor method is used for creating and initializing an object of a class type. Only one method with the name constructor is allowed (otherwise a SyntaxError will be thrown).

To declare a derived class we should use the extends keyword. Derived classes can use the super keyword to call the constructor of the super (base) class:

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

class Employee extends Person {
 constructor(name, age, employer) {
  super(name, age);
  this.employer = employer;
 }
}

The main advantage of inheritance is code re-usability and standards. Nevertheless, beware of its improper use since it may lead to God object and code smells.

Another use of the super keyword is to call corresponding methods of super (base) class:

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

 greet() {
  console.log(`Hey, my name is ${this.name}`);
 }
}

class Employee extends Person {
 constructor(name, age, employer) {
  super(name, age);
  this.employer = employer;
 }

 greet() {
  super.greet();
  console.log(`I'm working at ${this.employer}`);
 }
}

const john = new Employee('John', 29, 'Google');
john.greet();

// Hey, my name is John
// I'm working at Google

Fin.