javascript - Node.js ES6 classes with require

Question

So up until now, i have created classes and modules in node.js the following way:

    var fs = require('fs');

var animalModule = (function () {
    /**
     * Constructor initialize object
     * @constructor
     */
    var Animal = function (name) {
        this.name = name;
    };

    Animal.prototype.print = function () {
        console.log('Name is :'+ this.name);
    };

    return {
        Animal: Animal
    }
}());

module.exports = animalModule;

---

Now with ES6, you are able to make "actual" classes just like this:

class Animal{

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

 print(){
    console.log('Name is :'+ this.name);
 }
}

Now, first of all, i love this :) but it raises a question. How do you use this combined with node.js's module structure?

Say you have a class where you wish to use a module for the sake of demonstration say you wish to use fs

so you create your file:

---

Animal.js

var fs = require('fs');
class Animal{

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

 print(){
    console.log('Name is :'+ this.name);
 }
}

Would this be the right way?

Also, how do you expose this class to other files within my node project? And would you still be able to extend this class if you're using it in a separate file?

I hope some of you will be able to answer these questions :)

Answer 1

Yes, your example would work fine.

As for exposing your classes, you can export a class just like anything else:

class Animal {...}
module.exports = Animal;

Or the shorter:

module.exports = class Animal {

};

Once imported into another module, then you can treat it as if it were defined in that file:

var Animal = require('./Animal');

class Cat extends Animal {
    ...
}