CoffeeScript parent class reference with jQuery callback

Question

I am new to CoffeScript, and I was wondering if there is a way to write the following code snippet without referencing the global variable application:

class App constructor: -> @ui = ui.init() $('#content-holder a[rel!=dialog]').live 'click', -> link = $(@).attr 'href' app.loadUrl link return false loadUrl: (href) -> # ... app = new App() 

Using the fat arrow does not work, since then I lose the reference to the jQuery object, i.e.

 class App constructor: -> @ui = ui.init() $('#content-holder a[rel!=dialog]').live 'click', => # @ now references App link = $(@).attr 'href' this.loadUrl link return false loadUrl: (href) -> # ... 

The first code snippet works, but I want to get rid of the global variable if possible :-)

Cheers, Gaz.

Answer 1

Your click handler receives the event that took place in ... so you can get the best of both worlds using the bold arrow without requiring the self link too:

 constructor: -> @ui = ui.init() $('#content-holder a[rel!=dialog]').live 'click', (e) => link = $(e.target).attr 'href' @loadUrl link return false 

Answer 2

Well, CS is just a higher level syntax for JS.

In JS, this can only refer to one object.

The thick arrow uses closure to make this equal to a higher level of this , and more, and why it overrides this in the callback area

A simple arrow, in contrast, is simply an alias for function , and therefore this is a DOM element in the first case.

Finally, @something translates trivially to this.something and does nothing.

So my opinion is that your best bet is really making self = @ before binding.