Private and Privileged methods using the Constructor pattern in JavaScript

Constructor.js

function Constructor(){
  this.foo = 'foo';
  
  // Needed for Private methods
  var self = this;
  
  // Private methods need to be placed inside the Constructor.
  // Doesn't perform as well as prototype methods (as not shared across instances)
  function private(){
    console.log('I am private');
    console.log(self.foo);
  }

  // Privileged methods need to be placed inside the Constructor.
  // This is so they can get access to the Private methods.
  this.privileged = function(){
    private();
  };
}

Constructor.prototype.public = function(){
  console.log('I am public');
};

constructor = new Constructor;

console.log(constructor.foo);


constructor.public();     // will work
constructor.privileged(); // will work
constructor.private();    // won't work (can't be accessed directly)

@jslegers if you want to mimic Java/PHP you can use a lib like dejavu, which implements accessor keywords; or use a language that compiles into JavaScript - but to be honest I would just stick with plain JS and avoid real private methods. (easier to debug and to extend code if needed)

"always bet on JS."

it's also good to remind that functional programming makes a few tasks way simpler and avoids bureaucracy. Not all the things needs to be a constructor! cheers.