Running multiple javascript object methods together

Question

I am trying to write a little helper class for my ajax chat system i am working on just trying to add basic functions that i may need.

var strings = {
        filterWords: ["fool", "dumb", "arse"],
        removeSpecialChars: function (str) {
            return str.replace(/[^\w\s]/gi, '');
        },
        killSpace: function (str) {
            return str.replace(/\s/g, '');
        },
        reduceSpace: function (str) {
            return str.replace(/\s+/g, ' ');
        },
        allowLetsAndNums: function (str) {
            return str.replace(/[^A-Za-z0-9]/g, ' ');
        },
        allowLets: function (str) {
            return str.replace(/[^A-Za-z]/g, ' ');
        },
        allowNums: function (str) {
            return str.replace(/[^0-9]/g, ' ');
        },
        wordFilter: function (str) {
            var rgx = new RegExp(this.filterWords.join("|"), "gi");
            return str.replace(rgx, "****");
        }
    }

What i am finding is i may need to run multiple methods together i am asking whats the best practise to do this without resulting with below?

alert(strings.wordFilter(strings.reduceSpace(strings.allowLets("efgwge @£235%^@£ fool you a dumb arse432345$%^"))));

Thanks

Try having an array of functions, then loop through each. Pass the previous result on to the next call until finished. — Joseph
– Joseph, Commented Nov 7, 2012 at 10:28

Jamiec · Accepted Answer · 2012-11-07 10:39:22Z

3

You could make this a fluent interface, allowing code like this:

var x = new Validation("efgwge @£235%^@£ fool you a dumb arse432345$%^");
alert(x.allowLets().reduceSpace().wordFilter().result());
// alerts "efgwge **** you a **** ****"

Your main code would need to be:

var Validation = function(str) {
    this.str = str;
    filterWords = ["fool", "dumb", "arse"]
    this.removeSpecialChars = function () {
        this.str = this.str.replace(/[^\w\s]/gi, '');
        return this;
    };    
    this.killSpace = function () {
        this.str = this.str.replace(/\s/g, '');
        return this;
    };
    this.reduceSpace = function () {
        this.str = this.str.replace(/\s+/g, ' ');
        return this;
    };
    this.allowLetsAndNums = function () {
        this.str = this.str.replace(/[^A-Za-z0-9]/g, ' ');
        return this;
    };
    this.allowLets = function () {
        this.str = this.str.replace(/[^A-Za-z]/g, ' ');
        return this;
    };
    this.allowNums = function () {
        this.str = this.str.replace(/[^0-9]/g, ' ');
        return this;
    };
    this.wordFilter = function () {
        var rgx = new RegExp(filterWords.join("|"), "gi");
        this.str = this.str.replace(rgx, "****");
        return this;
    };
    this.result = function(){
        return this.str;
    };
}

Live example: http://jsfiddle.net/fb7en/

answered Nov 7, 2012 at 10:39

Jamiec

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1 Comment

user1503606 Over a year ago

really like this way of doing it seems the clearest and cleanest to me thanks

dave · Accepted Answer · 2012-11-07 10:34:53Z

1

You could extend the String prototype:

String.prototype.removeSpecialChars = function () {
return this.replace(/[^\w\s]/gi, '');
}
String.prototype.killSpace = function () {
return this.replace(/\s/g, '');
}

var foo = "This is my§$% String";
document.write(foo.removeSpecialChars().killSpace());

answered Nov 7, 2012 at 10:34

dave

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Comments

That White Eyebrow Guy · Accepted Answer · 2012-11-07 10:39:57Z

1

You could add the functions to the String.prototype so you can call the functions like this:

String.prototype.killSpace = function() {
  return this.replace(/\s/g, '');
}
String.prototype.reduceSpace = function () {
  return this.replace(/\s+/g, ' ');
}

"foo   bar".reduceSpace().killSpace(); // => returns foobar

Only downside to this is that you can't iterate over a string with a for..in loop then because it will list the method as a member and there's currently no cross-browser way to make it non-iterable (IE doesn't support it).

answered Nov 7, 2012 at 10:39

That White Eyebrow Guy

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Comments

FloHimself · Accepted Answer · 2012-11-07 10:46:00Z

0

You might consider a chainable API for your Object:

var StringFilter = {
    _string: '',
    string: function (string) {
        this._string = string || '';
        return this;
    },
    filterWords: ["fool", "dumb", "arse"],
    removeSpecialChars: function () {
        this._string = this._string.replace(/[^\w\s]/gi, '');
        return this;
    },
    killSpace: function () {
        this._string = this._string.replace(/\s/g, '');
        return this;
    },
    reduceSpace: function () {
        this._string = this._string.replace(/\s+/g, ' ');
        return this;
    },
    allowLetsAndNums: function () {
        this._string = this._string.replace(/[^A-Za-z0-9]/g, ' ');
        return this;
    },
    allowLets: function () {
        this._string = this._string.replace(/[^A-Za-z]/g, ' ');
        return this;
    },
    allowNums: function () {
        this._string = this._string.replace(/[^0-9]/g, ' ');
        return this;
    },
    wordFilter: function () {
        var rgx = new RegExp(this.filterWords.join("|"), "gi");
        this._string = this._string.replace(rgx, "****");
        return this;
    },
    select: function () {
        return this._string;
    }
};

StringFilter
    .string("efgwge @£235%^@£ fool you a dumb arse432345$%^")
    .allowLets()
    .reduceSpace()
    .wordFilter()
    .select();

answered Nov 7, 2012 at 10:46

FloHimself

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2 Comments

Jamiec Over a year ago

Excellent idea, why didnt I think of this ;)

FloHimself Over a year ago

You had a very similar idea and yours seems advantageously in asynchronous actions because of the new object. ;)

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