Revealing Module Pattern adding submodule and accessing private functions

Question

I want to set up some code using the revealing module pattern. I'd like to set up the sub module to be able to access the private funcitons of the main module but im stuck on how to do this.

Here is some sample code ive been playing with:

var Module = (function() {

    function B(){
        console.log("B");

    };

    return {
        //B: B
    };

})();

var Module = Module || {};

Module.Utils = (function() {

    function C() {

        B();
    };

    return {
        C: C
    }

}).apply(Module);

Module.Utils.C();

How can i make it so that i can call a private function from the Utils module?

EDIT:

Jsut to clarify i want to be able to create a submodule that is added to the main module so if it helps the sub module could be Module as well. I was reading this: http://www.sitepoint.com/modular-design-patterns-in-javascript/ which uses apply() to add the second module but has to use the extend and privatise funcitons to add the module to the main one. I'd like to keep away from that if possible?

Another EDIT In short i want to have one main module and the second module to be in a new file that is only used on one section. i need the second module to still be able to reference the main module private functions. Is this possible?

Here is the code i mention:

//protected utility functions
    utils =
    {
        //add properties to an object
        extend : function(root, props)
        {
            for(var key in props)
            {
                if(props.hasOwnProperty(key))
                {
                    root[key] = props[key];
                }
            }
            return root;
        },

        //copy an object property then delete the original 
        privatise : function(root, prop)
        {
            var data = root[prop];
            try         { delete root[prop]; } 
            catch(ex)   { root[prop] = null; }
            return data;
        }
    };

You cannot, it's private? You will have to export it and call Module.B — Bergi
– Bergi, Commented Jul 3, 2013 at 13:17
I believe that's the whole point of the revealing module pattern - encapsulation. — Dimitar Dimitrov
– Dimitar Dimitrov, Commented Jul 3, 2013 at 13:42
Yes i agree it is to encapsulate it. I know i can use the extend function on that link to do what i want but i wanted to make sure it was the best way. In short i want to have one main module and the second module to be in a new file. i need the second module to still be able to reference the main module private functions — Lee
– Lee, Commented Jul 3, 2013 at 13:49

Matt · Accepted Answer · 2013-07-03 13:48:07Z

4

Unless you are defining the submodule in the same lexical scope as the parent module, and doing some kind of closure over the "parent" private functions, you can't. You made the functions private, and so you need to be able to see them to call them. And you can't see them when defining a sub-module in a different place from the parent module. The only way you will get your desired structure is like this:

var Module = (function () {
    function B() {
        console.log("B");
    };

    var Utils = (function () {
        function C() {
            B();
        };

        return {
            C: C
        }
    })()

    return {
        Utils: Utils
    };
})();

answered Jul 3, 2013 at 13:48

Matt

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2 Comments

Lee Over a year ago

I am lookng to have the second module in a seperate file so it is not possible to do what yo suggest which is a shame.

Matt Over a year ago

The only remaining possibility would be to start off with the variable as non-private, capture it, and then remove it from the parent module. This would be a major hack, and complicate your code. Ultimately it would be better to just let it be non-private and keep your implementation cleaner.

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