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JavaScript Build a Simple Dynamic Site with Node.js Handling Routes in Node.js Populating User Information

Phuc Le
Phuc Le
5,182 Points

What does the EventEmitter.call(this) mean in profile.js?

There are 2 statements in profile.js which are complex for me

util.inherits( Profile, EventEmitter );: In my opinion, it is used to inherit the prototype methods from EventEmitter into Profile, so we can call on method like this:

let profile = new Profile();

profile.on('data', callback{...});

Is that correct?

But I don't know what does EventEmitter.call(this) mean? Because I tried to delete this statement and the project still works well.

3 Answers

Phuc Le
Phuc Le
5,182 Points

Could somebody give me a answer?

David Mendiola
seal-mask
.a{fill-rule:evenodd;}techdegree
David Mendiola
Full Stack JavaScript Techdegree Student 16,579 Points

.call is a prototype available to all JS functions. It specifies what to use for "this" followed by any arguments for the function. This example taken from mdn.

function greet() {
  var reply = [this.person, 'Is An Awesome', this.role].join(' ');
  console.log(reply);
}

var i = {
  person: 'Douglas Crockford', role: 'Javascript Developer'
};

greet.call(i); // Douglas Crockford Is An Awesome Javascript Developer

I have the same question. I don't really see what it means, or why it is necessary. Also, what does the code above it mean? it looks to be in comments, but my syntax highlighter has highlighted it.

/**
 * An EventEmitter to get a Treehouse students profile.
 * @param username
 * @constructor
 */