util/collection

Unstable

A simple list-like class and utilities for using it.

Usage

A collection is ordered, like an array, but its items are unique, like a set.

Globals

Constructors

Collection([array])

Creates a new collection. The collection is backed by an array.

Parameters

array : array
If array is given, it will be used as the backing array. This way the caller can fully control the collection. Otherwise a new empty array will be used, and no one but the collection will have access to it.

Functions

addCollectionProperty(object, propName, [backingArray])

Adds a collection property to the given object. Setting the property to a scalar value empties the collection and adds the value. Setting it to an array empties the collection and adds all the items in the array.

Parameters

object : object
The property will be defined on this object.

propName : string
The name of the property.

backingArray : array
If given, this will be used as the collection's backing array.

Collection

A collection object provides for...in-loop iteration. Items are yielded in the order they were added. For example, the following code...

var collection = require("sdk/util/collection");
var c = new collection.Collection();
c.add(1);
c.add(2);
c.add(3);
for (item in c)
  console.log(item);

... would print this to the console:

  1
  2
  3

Iteration proceeds over a copy of the collection made before iteration begins, so it is safe to mutate the collection during iteration; doing so does not affect the results of the iteration.

Methods

add(itemOrItems)

Adds a single item or an array of items to the collection. Any items already contained in the collection are ignored.

Parameters

itemOrItems : object
An item or array of items.

Returns

Collection : The Collection.

remove(itemOrItems)

Removes a single item or an array of items from the collection. Any items not contained in the collection are ignored.

Parameters

itemOrItems : object
An item or array of items.

Returns

Collection : The Collection.

Properties

length

The number of items in the collection array.

Document Tags and Contributors

 Contributors to this page: wbamberg, n8chz, jsantell
 Last updated by: wbamberg,