ReflectionJS

Although there are no classes in JavaScript, therefore the term "reflection" wouldn't be very accurate, this is an attempt to bring some of the features from languages like C# and Java to JavaScript.

Getting Started

Install the module with: npm install --save reflectionjs

var reflection = require("reflectionjs");

Documentation

call(functionName, [args])

Execute a function by name.

var obj = {
  print: function () {
    console.log("it works!");
  },
  sum: function (a, b) {
    return a + b;
  }
};
 
reflection(obj).call("print"); // "it works!"
reflection(obj).call("sum", 5, 5); // 10

clone()

Creates an exact copy of the object without keeping a reference to it.

var obj = {
  a: "a"
};
 
var copy = reflection(obj).clone();
copy.a = "b";
 
console.log(obj.a); // "a"
console.log(copy.a); // "b"

get(propertyName)

Returns a reference to a property. Also accepts a namespace as argument like "my.cool.namespace".

var obj = {
  name: "jose",
  company: {
    name: "Reflectors Inc"
  },
  print: function () {
    console.log(this.name);
  }
};
 
var ref;
 
ref = reflection(obj).get("name");
console.log(ref); // "jose"
 
ref = reflection(obj).get("company.name");
console.log(ref); // "Reflectors Inc"

You can also run methods like:

ref = reflection(obj).get("print");
ref(); // "jose"

methods()

Returns an array with all methods names. In this case, properties are ignored.

var obj = {
  name: "jose",
  print: function () {
    console.log(this.name);
  },
  sayHello: function () {
    console.log("hello!");
  }
};
 
var methods = reflection(obj).methods();
console.log(methods); // ["print", "sayHello"]

owns(propertyName)

Check if the object owns a property. Also accepts a namespace as argument like "my.cool.namespace".

var obj = {
  name: "jose",
  company: {
    name: "Reflectors Inc"
  }
};
 
reflection(obj).owns("name"); // true
reflection(obj).owns("company.name"); // true
reflection(obj).owns("age"); // false

properties()

Returns an array with all properties names. In this case, methods are ignored.

var obj = {
  name: "jose",
  age: 32,
  sayHello: function () {
    console.log("hello!");
  }
};
 
var properties = reflection(obj).properties();
console.log(properties); // ["name", "age"]

set(propertyName, value)

Sets a property value. If the property does not exists, it will be created, even if it is an nested property. Also accepts a namespace as argument like "my.cool.namespace".

var obj = {
  name: "jose",
  company: {
    name: null
  }
};
 
reflection(obj).set("name", "bob");
console.log(obj.name); // "bob"
 
reflection(obj).set("company.name", "Reflectors Inc");
console.log(obj.company.name); // "Reflectors Inc"
 
reflection(obj).set("company.website", "www.getreflectors.com");
console.log(obj.company.website); // "www.getreflectors.com"

type()

Returns a string containing the type of the current object.

var obj = {};
 
var type;
 
type = reflection(obj).type();
console.log(type); // "Object"
 
type = reflection(null).type();
console.log(type); // "Null"
 
type = reflection(1).type();
console.log(type); // "Number"
 
type = reflection(/abc/).type();
console.log(type); // "RegExp"