OverloadHandler
SimpleOverloadHandler offers basic overloading functionalities.
Overload handlers are used by the Overload class to identify the
corresponding method for a specific list of arguments. Whereby the overload handler
holds the method and the expected arguments' types of this method.
It also offers functionalities to match real arguments against the expected arguments' types, matches, and to determine which overload handler or rather which arguments' types of two handlers are more explicit, isMoreExplicit.
It also offers the ability to invoke/execute the target method on a target scope passing-in a list of real arguments.
This class is normally not used directly but indirectly via the Overload#addHandler method.
If you nevertheless want to instantiate it by hand and then use it with the
Overload class you can do this as follows:
this.myMethod = function(number:Number, string:String):String {
return (number + ", " + string);
}
var overload:Overload = new Overload(this);
var handler:OverloadHandler = new SimpleOverloadHandler([Number, String], myMethod);
overload.addHandler(handler);
trace(overload.forward([2, "myString"]));
Note that the handlers arguments signature (the arguments' types) match exactly
the ones of the method myMethod.
public function SimpleOverloadHandler(argumentsTypes:Array, method:Function)
Constructs a new SimpleOverloadHandler instance.
If the passed-in argumentsTypes array is null or
undefined an empty array is used instead.
The passed-in argumentsTypes are the types of arguments this handler
expects the real arguments to have. The arguments' types thus are also the types
of arguments the method, this handler forwards to, expects. The matches
and isMoreExplicit methods do their job based on the arguments' types.
An argument-type is represented by a class or interface, that is a
Function in ActionScript. An argument type can for example be
Number, String, org.as2lib.core.BasicClass,
org.as2lib.core.BasicInterface or any other class or interface.
An argument-type of value null or undefined is interpreted
as any type allowed and is less explicit then any other type.
The arguments' types determine what method call is forwarded to this handler
which then invokes the passed-in method. The forwarding to this handler
normally takes place if it's matching the passed-in real arguments,
matches, and if it is the most explicit overload handler,
isMoreExplicit.
argumentsTypes | the arguments' types of the method |
method | the actual method to execute on the target if the argumetns' types match |
| IllegalArgumentException | if the passed-in method is null
or undefined
|
public function matches(realArguments:Array):Boolean
Checks whether the passed-in realArguments match the arguments' types
of this overload handler.
If the passed-in realArguments array is null or
undefined, an empty array is used instead.
If a real argument has the value null or undefined it matches
every type.
If the expected argument-type is null or undefined it matches
every real argument. That means null and undefined are
interpreted as Object, which also matches every real argument.
realArguments | the real arguments to match against the arguments' types |
true if the real arguments match the arguments' types else
false
public function execute(target, args:Array)
Executes the method of this handler on the given target passing-in the
given args.
The this scope of the method refers to the passed-in target
on execution.
target | the target object to invoke the method on |
args | the arguments to pass-in on method invocation |
the result of the method invocation
public function isMoreExplicit(handler:OverloadHandler):Boolean
Checks if this overload handler is more explicit than the passed-in
handler.
The check is based on the arguments' types of both handlers. They are compared one by one.
What means more explicit? The type String is for example more
explicit than Object. The type org.as2lib.core.BasicClass is
also more explicit than Object. And the type
org.as2lib.env.overload.SimpleOverloadHandler is more explicit than
org.as2lib.core.BasicClass. I hope you get the image. As you can see,
the explicitness depends on the inheritance hierarchy.
Note that classes are supposed to be more explicit than interfaces.
handler is null true will be
returned. handler's getArguments method returns
null an empty array will be used instead. true will be returned. null it is less explicit than no matter
what type it is compared with.handler | the handler to compare this handler with regarding its explicitness |
true if this handler is more explicit else false or
null if the two handlers have the same explicitness
public function getArgumentsTypes(Void):ArrayReturns the arguments' types used to match against the real arguments.
The arguments' types determine for which types of arguments the method was declared for. That means which arguments' types the method expects.
the arguments' types the method expects
getArgumentsTypes() in org.as2lib.env.overload.OverloadHandler
public function getMethod(Void):FunctionReturns the method this overload handler was assigned to.
This is the method to invoke passing the appropriate arguments when this handler matches the arguments and is the most explicit one.
the method to invoke when the real arguments match the ones of this handler and this handler is the most explicit one
public function toString():StringReturns a detailed string representation of this overload handler.
The string representation is composed as follows:
[object SimpleOverloadHandler(firstArgumentType, ..)]
toString() in org.as2lib.core.BasicInterface