[TypeScript] Creating a Class in TypeScript

Typescript classes make traditional object oriented programming easier to read and write. In this lesson we learn about class syntax, what the constructor is and some interesting variable features.

 

interface Opponent {
    health: number;
    alias: string;
}

class ComicBookCharacter {

    private team: {
        name: string;
        members: ComicBookCharacter[]
    };

    static createAndAssignTeam(teamName: string, members: ComicBookCharacter[]) {
        let team = {
            name: teamName,
            members: members
        };

        members.forEach((member)=>{
            member.team = team;
        })
    }

    constructor(public alias: string,
                public health: number,
                public strength: number,
                private secretIdentity: string) {

    }

    getTeamName(){
        console.log(`${this.alias} is from ${this.team.name}`);
        return this.team.name;
    }

    attackFunc(opponent: Opponent, attackWith) {
        opponent.health -= attackWith;
        console.log(`${this.alias} attacked ${opponent.alias}, who's health = ${opponent.health}`);
        return opponent.health;
    }

    getSecretIdentity() {
        if (this.secretIdentity) {
            console.log(`${this.alias} is ${this.secretIdentity}`);
        } else {
            console.log(`${this.alias} has no secret identity`);
        }
    }
}

const Sparky = new ComicBookCharacter("Sparky", 6700, 3000, "Thunder");
const Rainer = new ComicBookCharacter("Rainer", 7500, 3400, "Water");


ComicBookCharacter.createAndAssignTeam('Eevee', [Sparky,Rainer]);
Sparky.getTeamName();

 

To review, we've learned about access modifiers and the difference between public and private. The constructor is run when the classinstance is initialized, and the shorthand for setting class properties allows us to write less code. We've learned that static properties can only be referenced from the class, not the instance, and how staticproperties have access to an instances private properties.