Javascript - Protecting Your Data

Making data private

Use closures
Closures hide long-lived data from interference

Example

  function Account(initialBalance) {
      var balance = initialBalance; // Deep copy if by reference

      return {
          getBalance: function() {
              return balance;
          },

          setBalance: function(newBalance) {
              if (newBalance > 0) {
                  balance = newBalance;
              }
          }
      }
  }

  var account = Account(100);
  console.log(account.getBalance()); // 100

Accessor properties

Make attributes hidden behind a function, and hence immutable (or checked for mis-access)
Useful strategy to even handle existing attributes

Example

function Person(firstName, lastName) {
    return {
        get firstName() { return firstName; },
        set firstName(newFirstName) { return undefined; },

        get lastName() { return lastName; },
        set lastName(newLastName) { return undefined; }
    }
}

var person = Person('Ravindra', 'Jaju');
console.log(person.firstName);

Ravindra

Making data immutable

Object.defineProperty is your friend

Example

  var o = {}

  Object.defineProperty(o, 'property', {
      value: "I am valuable!",
      writable: false
  });

o.property; // I am valuable!
o.property = "I am not valuable!"; // Check. No change!
console.log(o.property);

I am valuable!

Pitfalls

Javascript will not inform you on errors.
Modify immutable attribute - no throw!
Call setters which are no-ops - no throw!

Deep clone

Javascript passes objects by reference
You have no control over who keeps the reference
Modification can happen behind your back
Surprises!

Solution?

Poor man's deep clone

let o = {key: "value", truthy: true};
console.log(JSON.stringify(o))
console.log(JSON.parse(JSON.stringify(o)))

{"key":"value","truthy":true}
{ key: 'value', truthy: true }

It does not copy non-data attributes
- Functions, getters/setters are lost