TypeScript (and JavaScript) classes support strict single inheritance. So you cannot do:
class User extends Tagged, Timestamped { // ERROR : no multiple inheritance
}
Another way of building up classes from reusable components is to build them by combining simpler partial classes called mixins.
The idea is simple, instead of a class A extending class B to get its functionality, function B takes class A and returns a new class with this added functionality. Function B is a mixin.
[A mixin is] a function that 1. takes a constructor, 1. creates a class that extends that constructor with new functionality 1. returns the new class
A complete example
// Needed for all mixins
type Constructor<T = {}> = new (...args: any[]) => T;
////////////////////
// Example mixins
////////////////////
// A mixin that adds a property
function Timestamped<TBase extends Constructor>(Base: TBase) {
return class extends Base {
timestamp = Date.now();
};
}
// a mixin that adds a property and methods
function Activatable<TBase extends Constructor>(Base: TBase) {
return class extends Base {
isActivated = false;
activate() {
this.isActivated = true;
}
deactivate() {
this.isActivated = false;
}
};
}
////////////////////
// Usage to compose classes
////////////////////
// Simple class
class User {
name = '';
}
// User that is Timestamped
const TimestampedUser = Timestamped(User);
// User that is Timestamped and Activatable
const TimestampedActivatableUser = Timestamped(Activatable(User));
////////////////////
// Using the composed classes
////////////////////
const timestampedUserExample = new TimestampedUser();
console.log(timestampedUserExample.timestamp);
const timestampedActivatableUserExample = new TimestampedActivatableUser();
console.log(timestampedActivatableUserExample.timestamp);
console.log(timestampedActivatableUserExample.isActivated);
Let's decompose this example.
Take a constructor
Mixins take a class and extend it with new functionality. So we need to define what is a constructor. Easy as:
// Needed for all mixins
type Constructor<T = {}> = new (...args: any[]) => T;
Extend the class and return it
Pretty easy:
// A mixin that adds a property
function Timestamped<TBase extends Constructor>(Base: TBase) {
return class extends Base {
timestamp = Date.now();
};
}
