Static variables in JavaScript

Question

How can I create static variables in Javascript?

Answer 1

Summary:

In ES6/ES 2015 the class keyword was introduced with an accompanied static keyword. Keep in mind that this is syntactic sugar over the prototypal inheritance model which javavscript embodies. The static keyword works in the following way for methods:

class Dog {

  static bark () {console.log('woof');}
  // classes are function objects under the hood
  // bark method is located on the Dog function object
  
  makeSound () { console.log('bark'); }
  // makeSound is located on the Dog.prototype object

}

// to create static variables just create a property on the prototype of the class
Dog.prototype.breed = 'Pitbull';
// So to define a static property we don't need the `static` keyword.

const fluffy = new Dog();
const vicky = new Dog();
console.log(fluffy.breed, vicky.breed);

// changing the static variable changes it on all the objects
Dog.prototype.breed = 'Terrier';
console.log(fluffy.breed, vicky.breed);