What exactly is the function of Function.prototype.toMethod()?

In the innovative world of JavaScript, I came across the intriguing Function.prototype with the toMethod() method. Can anyone shed light on what this function actually does and provide some guidance on how to use it effectively?

Answer №1

Recent Update: The toMethod function was considered experimental and did not get included in the standard. As of now, the home object is treated as static, with the only way to modify super being by changing the [[prototype]]:

var base = {…}; // defined below
var obj = Object.setPrototypeOf({
    foo() { // must use method definition syntax here
       super.foo();
    }
}, base);
obj.foo();

This concept closely resembles the functionality of the bind method for function objects. Rather than producing a new function with a bound this value, it generates a new function with a bound [[HomeObject]], which serves as the reference point for super calls:

[[HomeObject]] (Object): When a function utilizes super, this object's [[GetPrototypeOf]] supplies the initial object for conducting super property lookups.

Take a look at this example (without using any class syntax):

var base = {
    foo: function() {
         console.log("base foo called on", this);
    }
};
base.foo(); // base foo executed on base
var obj = Object.create(base);
obj.foo(); // base foo executed on obj

obj.foo = function() {
    super.foo();
};
obj.foo(); // Throws ReferenceError: this method has no home
obj.bar = obj.foo.toMethod(obj);
obj.bar(); // base foo executed on obj

obj.baz = function() {
    super();
};
obj.baz(); // Throws ReferenceError: this constructor has no parent class
Reflect.setPrototypeOf(obj.baz, base.foo);
obj.baz(); // base foo executed on obj

Answer №2

From my understanding, the concept of .toMethod can be likened to duplicating a function. Consider the example provided in the snippet below:

class Animal { }
class Cat extends Animal {
    makeSound() {
        console.log("Meow");
        super();
    }
}
Animal.prototype.makeSound = Cat.prototype.makeSound;
(new Cat).makeSound();

In this scenario, you are referencing a method from a subclass (.makeSound) within the superclass. So when you invoke .makeSound, it will point to Animal's .makeSound, which then refers back to Cat's .makeSound, creating a loop.

To address this issue, one might utilize .toMethod to essentially duplicate the function and assign it a different super or "home" as specified:

Animal.prototype.makeSound = Cat.prototype.makeSound.toMethod(Animal.prototype);

By doing so, calling (new Cat).makeSound() would not result in an endless loop.

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