Clear

This JavaScript package exports a clear operator that accepts an array, object, or any other object that implements the clear method. For objects, the clear method deletes all enumerable properties.

$ npm install --save pop-clear

var clear = require("pop-clear");

var array = [1, 2, 3];
clear(array);
expect(array).toEqual([]);

var object = {a: 10, b: 20};
clear(object);
expect(object).toEqual({});

var instance = {
    clear: function () {
        throw new TypeError("Can't clear");
    }
};
expect(function () {
    clear(instance);
}).toThrow();

Polymorphic operator

A well-planned system of objects is beautiful: a system where every meaningful method for an object has been anticipated in the design. Inevitably, another layer of architecture introduces a new concept and with it the temptation to monkey-patch, dunk-punch, or otherwise cover-up the omission. But reaching backward in time, up through the layers of architecture doesn't always compose well, when different levels introduce concepts of the same name but distinct behavior.

A polymorphic operator is a function that accepts as its first argument an object and varies its behavior depending on its type. Such an operator has the benefit of covering for the types from higher layers of architecture, but defers to the eponymous method name of types yet to be defined.

The clear operator delegates to the clear method of the given object if it is implemented. This is particularly useful for cases where the object may be an array or an observable array, for which the clear method has been overridden to dispatch ranged content changes.

License and Copyright

Copyright (c) 2015 Kristopher Michael Kowal and contributors. All rights reserved. MIT License