[javascript] Does JavaScript have the interface type (such as Java's 'interface')?

JavaScript Interfaces:

Though JavaScript does not have the interface type, it is often times needed. For reasons relating to JavaScript's dynamic nature and use of Prototypical-Inheritance, it is difficult to ensure consistent interfaces across classes -- however, it is possible to do so; and frequently emulated.

At this point, there are handfuls of particular ways to emulate Interfaces in JavaScript; variance on approaches usually satisfies some needs, while others are left unaddressed. Often times, the most robust approach is overly cumbersome and stymies the implementor (developer).

Here is an approach to Interfaces / Abstract Classes that is not very cumbersome, is explicative, keeps implementations inside of Abstractions to a minimum, and leaves enough room for dynamic or custom methodologies:

function resolvePrecept(interfaceName) {
    var interfaceName = interfaceName;
    return function curry(value) {
        /*      throw new Error(interfaceName + ' requires an implementation for ...');     */
        console.warn('%s requires an implementation for ...', interfaceName);
        return value;
    };
}

var iAbstractClass = function AbstractClass() {
    var defaultTo = resolvePrecept('iAbstractClass');

    this.datum1 = this.datum1 || defaultTo(new Number());
    this.datum2 = this.datum2 || defaultTo(new String());

    this.method1 = this.method1 || defaultTo(new Function('return new Boolean();'));
    this.method2 = this.method2 || defaultTo(new Function('return new Object();'));

};

var ConcreteImplementation = function ConcreteImplementation() {

    this.datum1 = 1;
    this.datum2 = 'str';

    this.method1 = function method1() {
        return true;
    };
    this.method2 = function method2() {
        return {};
    };

    //Applies Interface (Implement iAbstractClass Interface)
    iAbstractClass.apply(this);  // .call / .apply after precept definitions
};

Participants

Precept Resolver

The resolvePrecept function is a utility & helper function to use inside of your Abstract Class. Its job is to allow for customized implementation-handling of encapsulated Precepts (data & behavior). It can throw errors or warn -- AND -- assign a default value to the Implementor class.

iAbstractClass

The iAbstractClass defines the interface to be used. Its approach entails a tacit agreement with its Implementor class. This interface assigns each precept to the same exact precept namespace -- OR -- to whatever the Precept Resolver function returns. However, the tacit agreement resolves to a context -- a provision of Implementor.

Implementor

The Implementor simply 'agrees' with an Interface (iAbstractClass in this case) and applies it by the use of Constructor-Hijacking: iAbstractClass.apply(this). By defining the data & behavior above, and then hijacking the Interface's constructor -- passing Implementor's context to the Interface constructor -- we can ensure that Implementor's overrides will be added, and that Interface will explicate warnings and default values.

This is a very non-cumbersome approach which has served my team & I very well for the course of time and different projects. However, it does have some caveats & drawbacks.

Drawbacks

Though this helps implement consistency throughout your software to a significant degree, it does not implement true interfaces -- but emulates them. Though definitions, defaults, and warnings or errors are explicated, the explication of use is enforced & asserted by the developer (as with much of JavaScript development).

This is seemingly the best approach to "Interfaces in JavaScript", however, I would love to see the following resolved:

• Assertions of return types
• Assertions of signatures
• Freeze objects from delete actions
• Assertions of anything else prevalent or needed in the specificity of the JavaScript community

That said, I hope this helps you as much as it has my team and I.