Extending All Javascript Arrays at Once

Question

I have an application using simple arrays (Array) and typed arrays (TypedArray).

I developed some needed extensions to the array types like (min, max, sum, ...).

But here's the tricky part: how define the created functions for all arrays in javascript?

If was some inheritance hierarchy between all of them, this problem would be more simpler. But so far I found no greater parent class.

For now I'm doing this:

// MIN FUNCTION
Array              .prototype.min =
Int8Array          .prototype.min =
Int16Array         .prototype.min =
Int32Array         .prototype.min =
Uint8Array         .prototype.min =
Uint16Array        .prototype.min =
Uint32Array        .prototype.min =
Uint8ClampedArray  .prototype.min =
Float32Array       .prototype.min =
Float64Array       .prototype.min = function () {
    // my code;
}

// MAX FUNCTION
Array              .prototype.max =
Int8Array          .prototype.max =
Int16Array         .prototype.max =
Int32Array         .prototype.max =
Uint8Array         .prototype.max =
Uint16Array        .prototype.max =
Uint32Array        .prototype.max =
Uint8ClampedArray  .prototype.max =
Float32Array       .prototype.max =
Float64Array       .prototype.max = function () {
    // my code;
}

// GO ON...

This is so monstrously ugly to look that I want to rip my eyes out.

How can I improve that? There is something to connect all these types to be used?

EDITED QUESTION:
How can I write this code without explicitly writing all types of javascript array?

The TypedArrays don't share a prototype? Also: I suggest adding the typed-arrays tag. — evolutionxbox
– evolutionxbox, Commented Feb 10, 2017 at 17:39
Why don't you use a function that you pass your array into? E.g. running Math.max.apply(null, yourArrayOfTypeX); works just fine. — schroffl
– schroffl, Commented Feb 10, 2017 at 17:40
Make a function that receives the method you want to add and its name as a string, and iterates the prototype objects assigning the method to each prototype using that name. — user1106925
– user1106925, Commented Feb 10, 2017 at 17:40
It does seem that the __proto__ of most of those prototypes is shared, but I don't know if that'll be reliable. — user1106925
– user1106925, Commented Feb 10, 2017 at 17:41
Not sure what issue is? You have already written the extensions. — guest271314
– guest271314, Commented Feb 10, 2017 at 17:47

Petr Skocik · Accepted Answer · 2017-02-10 17:42:37Z

3

This appears to work:

function arMax(){
    var len = this.length;
    var i;
    var max=-Infinity;
    for(i=0;i<len;i++)
        if(this[i]>max)
            max=this[i];
    return max;
}
function arMin(){
    var len = this.length;
    var i;
    var min=+Infinity;
    for(i=0;i<len;i++)
        if(this[i]<min)
            min=this[i];
    return min;
}
for(tp of [ 
    Array, 
    Int8Array, 
    Int16Array,
    Int32Array,
    Uint8Array,
    Uint16Array,
    Uint32Array,
    Uint8ClampedArray,
    Float32Array,
    Float64Array,
]){
    tp.prototype.max = arMax;
    tp.prototype.min = arMin;
}

console.log([ 2, 34, 3, 2, -43, -1 ].max())
console.log([ 2, 34, 3, 2, -43, -1 ].min())

answered Feb 10, 2017 at 17:42

Petr Skocik

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2 Comments

Jonny Piazzi Over a year ago

This is a good answer +1, improves a lot but not solve the 'explicitly writing all types' part.

Petr Skocik Over a year ago

@JonnyPiazzi There's only a few of those types. It shouldn't be a big deal to type them out. You usually do this kind of thing at all the lower levels (C,C++). Slapping the function on Object.prototype works, but I guess that's a little bit too much. I'd type it out and move on (unless a better answer comes up).

Jimish Fotariya · Accepted Answer · 2017-02-10 18:28:49Z

0

If you are going to us this in browser, then you can get a list of available arrays from window object itself.

var availableAr = [];
Object.getOwnPropertyNames(window).forEach(function(name){	
	if( name.toString().indexOf('Array')!== -1 ){
     	 availableAr.push( name.toString() )
    }
})
console.log(availableAr);
console.log( 
        new window[ availableAr[0] ]()
  );

answered Feb 10, 2017 at 18:28

Jimish Fotariya

1,0979 silver badges21 bronze badges

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