@bind

:point_right: Make sure to first read the introduction to data binding.

This decorator creates two-way bindings within a custom component. Changes to the decorated component property value are reflected on the target property of a target element (child) and the other way around.

@bind can be applied only to properties of a class decorated with @component. It behaves like @property in most regards and also supports its typeGuard and type options. Only one of the two decorators can be applied to the same property.

bind(path)

Where path is a string in the format '#<targetElementId>.<targetProperty>'.

This a shorthand for @bind({path: string}). It can be used for simple two-way bindings if no typeGuard or type option is needed.

See example apps “bind-two-way” (TypeScript) and “bind-two-way-jsx” (JavaScript/JSX).

Binds the decorated component property to the property <targetProperty> of the target element (a direct or indirect child element of the component) with an id of <targetElementId>.

The example below establishes a two-way binding from the myNumber property to the property selection of the child with the id 'source'. The binding is established after append is called the first time on the component. At that time there needs to be exactly one descendant widget with the given id, and it has to have a property of the same type.

TypeScript example:

@component
class MyComponent extends Composite {

  @bind('#source.selection')
  myNumber: number = 50;


  constructor(properties: Properties<MyComponent>) {
    super();
    this.set(properties);
    this.append(
      <Slider id='source'/>
    );
  }

}

In JavaScript the only difference is how - if at all - the decorated property is typed. In JavaScript JSDoc comments may be used, but this is optional. This is true for all examples below, so only the TypeScript variant will be given.

/** @type {number} */
@bind('#source.selection')
myNumber;

@bind(config)

Like @bind(path) or @bindAll(bindings), but allows to give additional options as supported by @property.

The config object has the following options:

config.path

Where path is a string in the format '#<targetElementId>.<targetProperty>'.

Example:

@bind({path: '#source.selection'})
myNumber: number = 50;

For details see @bind(path) above.

config.all

Where all is a plain object in the format of:

{
  <sourceProperty>: '#<targetElementId>.<targetProperty>'
}

Example:

@bind({all:{
  myText: '#input1.text',
  myNumber: '#input2.selection'
}})
model: Model;

For details see @bindAll.

config.type

A type may be given to enforce type checks in JavaScript.

config.typeGuard

A type guard may be given to perform value checks.

config.default

The default value of the property.

config.nullable

Whether or not the value is nullable. Is true by default.

config.equals

How the property determines whether a new value equals the current one.

config.convert

Lets the property convert the incoming value to the expected type.

Properties eligible for bindings

Any component property can be used for two-way bindings, unless it’s explicitly implemented with a setter and getter, or with Object.defineProperty. These are not supported. The target property needs to generate change events for the two-way binding to work. This is already the case for all built-in properties of Tabris.js widgets.

See example apps “bind-two-way-change-events” (TypeScript) and “bind-two-way-change-events-jsx” (JavaScript/JSX).

If the target widget itself is a custom component the recommended way to implement change events is using @property. Note that there is no need to explicitly create an event API, @bind can ‘talk’ directly to @property. However, an explicit implementation is also possible.

Edge Cases

As with one-way bindings, setting the component property to undefined resets the target property to its initial value from when the binding was first established. The component property will also adopt that value, so both stay in syc.

If the component property converts or ignores the incoming value of the target property, the target property will follow and also bet set to the new component property value.

If a target property converts or ignores the incoming value of the component property, the component property will ignore that and keep its own value. The two properties are out-of-sync in this case.

If either property throws when set, the error will be propagated to the caller that originally caused the value change. In this case the two properties may end up out-of-sync.