Coding patterns

Let's start with some patterns that reflect JavaScript's unique features. Some patterns aim to help you organize your code (for example, namespacing), others are related to improving performance (such as lazy definitions and init-time branching), and some make up for missing features such as private properties. The patterns discussed in this section include:

• Separating behavior

• Namespaces

• Init-time branching

• Lazy definition

• Configuration objects

• Private variables and methods

• Privileged methods

• Private functions as public methods

• Immediate functions

• Chaining

• JSON

Separating behavior

As discussed previously, the three building blocks of a web page are as follows:

• Content (HTML)

• Presentation (CSS)

• Behavior (JavaScript)

Content

HTML is the content of the web page, the actual text. Ideally, the content should be marked up using the least amount of HTML tags that sufficiently describe the semantic meaning of that content. For example, if you're working on a navigation menu it's a good idea to use...