Search code examples
javascriptnode.jsexpress-validator

Chain functions in JavaScript

Is there a way to chain functions in JavaScript so when last function in chain is called we take into consideration all function in chain that was specified. Basically what I am trying to do is the same thing express-validator does: Something like this:

check('password').passwordValidator().optional();

I want to be able to call 

check('password').passwordValidator();

and 

check('password').passwordValidator().optional();
Solution

  • So you're looking for a sort of builder pattern? You can do that like this:

    class Foo {
  _passwordValidator = false;
  _optional = false;

  passwordValidator() {
    this._passwordValidator = true;
    return this;
  }
  optional() {
    this._optional = true;
    return this;
  }

  doThing() {
    if (this._optional) { /* ... */ }
    if (this._passwordValidator) { /* ... */ }
  }
}

const foo = new Foo().passwordValidator().optional();

foo.doThing();

    Edit: to more directly answer your question, there is no way to wait to do something until the current chain of method calls is done; you have to call a method like doThing() in the example to signal that you actually want to do the thing now.