PIXI element typof

[charlie_says]

I'm trying to write a function that's can have several different elements passed through to it. It could receive a texture, or a sprite, or a container. I'd then be able to handle what happens next...

But, as all those items return typeof Object, I'm a little uncertain as to how best to differentiate.

Is there a way I can test for they type?

[ivan.popelyshev]

Fields. Sprite has vertexData, Mesh has vertices, Texture has frame.

[charlie_says]

Thanks @ivan.popelyshev

My colleague laughed at me for asking this... He said, why not try instanceof.

I've given it a test, and it seems to work fine. Is there any reason not to do this?

 

[ivan.popelyshev]

instanceof works, but in general case, JS doesn't have types, its ambigious,  so its fine use fields to make custom "instanceof". For example, in TS you can make functions like `isSprite(d: DisplayObject )  : d is Sprite { return d.vertexData !== undefined }`. Its very big topic, I cant just explain it in one line, I just say that your question  makes sense.

[themoonrat]

If you wanted to go down that route, you can also do

const prettyImage = new PIXI.Sprite();
const constructorName = prettyImage.constructor.name; // will return 'Sprite'

 

https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/JavaScript/Reference/Global_Objects/Function/name

[jonforum]

on my side i use .name

pixi guys say they don't use so it safe to use and name all your objets.

also , more read

https://developer.mozilla.org/fr/docs/Web/JavaScript/Reference/Objets_globaux/Function/name
https://dmitripavlutin.com/understanding-constructor-property/