Sharing methods and properties between "classes"

Question

I have a "base class" in javascript that I call "main" in my example below. I want to use some methods and variables from the main class on all child classes that I create.

I have made two examples below with my current ideas. I suppose the the latter is preferred since I will create some instances of main, and I heard that prototype is useful when having more than one instance.

Should I go with any of these 2 methods, or try to create inheritance between the "classes"? If inheritance is preferred, please provide an example, since I don't know how ti implement that.

var main = (function(){

    var out = function() {};

    out.staticMethod = function(){
        alert('hello world');
    };

    return out;

})();

var child = (function(main){

    var out = function() {};

    out.prototype.useMainFunction = function(){
        main.staticMethod();
    };

    return out;

})(main);

var c = new child();
c.useMainFunction();

http://jsfiddle.net/mQPFJ/

var main = (function(){

    var out = function() {};

    out.prototype.publicMethod = function(){
        alert('hello world');
    };

    return out;

})();

var child = (function(main){

    var out = function() {};

    out.prototype.useMainFunction = function(){
        main.publicMethod();
    };

    return out;

})(new main());

var c = new child();
c.useMainFunction();

http://jsfiddle.net/mQPFJ/1/

Answer 1

I'm going to suggest a different approach:

function Main(){
  this.message = "Parent";
}

Main.prototype.out = function(){
    alert(this.message);
};

function Child(){
   this.message = "Child";
};

Child.prototype = new Main();

var child = new Child();
child.out();

var main = new Main();
main.out();

This approach creates two classes using the function constructor. The first class main is given a property out, which is assigned a function. The second class Child has its prototype assigned to a new instance of Main, creating inheritance between the two classes.

Working Example: http://jsfiddle.net/8QW46/

In regards your question about which approach is best

I would suggest using the first method which does not use prototype. The reason I would suggest this is that your not actually using classes (in Javascript Classes are better described as object definitions). Your creating instances of a function. Usually prototype is used to add functions to all instances of a class.

Here is an example of what you will not be able to achieve using your approach, which would be available with classes/object definitions: http://jsfiddle.net/smmb3/