Understanding JavaScript Object

Question

This line is at the top of a JavaScript file in a project at school. Can someone tell me what exactly it does?

var Tele = { 'Forms': {}, 'Form': {} };

It is then followed with three functions like this that all contain more functions as exampled below. FormsView.js

Tele.Forms.View = new function (){
    this.SetRequestTitle = function (title) {
    if (el.length == 0) {
        setTimeout(function () { Tele.Forms.View.SetRequestTitle(title); }, 100);
        return;
    }
    $('#FormTitleBarSubMenuText').html(title);
        document.title = title;
    };
    ....
    ....
};

Then there is a second JavaScript file FormView.js that only contains this

Tele.Form.View = new function () {
    this.Initialize = function (data) {
        Tele.Forms.View.SetRequestTitle('Approval Request');
    };
};

I am new to JavaScript and scripting in general so I am just trying to figure out how things work. I understand what is happening inside the functions, just not what is tying it all together. Thanks!

James Allardice · Accepted Answer · 2013-08-07 14:51:34Z

2

That line simply declares a variable:

var Tele; // Declare a variable with the identifier Tele

And assigns an object literal to it:

Tele = {} // Empty object literal

The object literal has 2 properties, Forms and Form, the value of each of which is another object literal:

Tele = { 'Forms': {}, 'Form': {} } // Object literal with 2 properties

Later on, these properties are referred to, and further properties are added to their values (their values are object literals, so you can add properties to them as follows):

Tele.Form.View = new function () { // Add a View property to Tele.Form
    // ...
};

answered Aug 7, 2013 at 14:51

James Allardice

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3 Comments

user2437417 Over a year ago

In your last sentence, "their values are object literals", I'm not seeing the object literals you're referring to.

Tomer Over a year ago

@CrazyTrain - Tele.Form and Tele.Forms are object literals.

user2437417 Over a year ago

Oh, ok, your sentence sounds to me like you're talking about the values added to the objects referenced by Forms and Form.

bfavaretto · Accepted Answer · 2013-08-07 14:51:34Z

2

var Tele = { 'Forms': {}, 'Form': {} };

This declares a Tele object with two empty objects inside (Forms and Form). The other two snippets assign properties to those objects (Tele.Forms.View and Tele.Form.View).

answered Aug 7, 2013 at 14:51

bfavaretto

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Comments

Kneel-Before-ZOD · Accepted Answer · 2013-08-07 14:56:55Z

0

That is a JavaScript object.
It contained two properties Forms and Form that are currently empty when created.

To the first property, Forms, another property is assigned to it, which is the function (the function is usually called a closure).
To the second property, Form, another property is assigned to it as well, which is also a function.
To call out the first function, you simply call


Tele.Forms.View();

and to call the second,


Tele.Form.View();

Hope the explanation is clear and it helps.

edited Aug 7, 2013 at 14:56

answered Aug 7, 2013 at 14:51

Kneel-Before-ZOD

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4 Comments

user2437417 Over a year ago

Neither .View property references a function.

Kneel-Before-ZOD Over a year ago

@CrazyTrain, in the layman's language, .View is assigned (aka references) a function; both mean the same in this case.

user2437417 Over a year ago

No, I'm not talking semantics. I mean that the View properties reference objects which are not function objects. If you look at the assignment, what is being assigned is the result of invoking the anonymous function using the new operator.

Kneel-Before-ZOD Over a year ago

You are right; I didn't notice the new keyword; nice catch :)

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