Observers and computed properties

Observers are methods invoked when observable changes occur to the element's data. There are two basic types of observers:

• Simple observers observe a single property.
• Complex observers can observe one or more properties or paths.

You use different syntax for declaring these two types of observers, but in most cases they function the same way. Each observer has one or more dependencies. The observer method runs when an observable change is made to a dependency.

Computed properties are virtual properties based on one or more pieces of the element's data. A computed property is generated by a computing function—essentially, a complex observer that returns a value.

Unless otherwise specified, notes about observers apply to simple observers, complex observers, and computed properties.

Observers and element initialization

The first call to an observer is deferred until the following criteria are met:

• The element is fully configured (default values have been assigned and data bindings propagated).
• At least one of the dependencies is defined (that is, they don't have the value undefined).

After the initial call, each observable change to a dependency generates a call to the observer, even if the new value for the dependency is undefined.

This allows the element to avoid running observers in the default case.

Observers are synchronous

Like all property effects, observers are synchronous. If the observer is likely to be invoked frequently, consider deferring time-consuming work, like inserting or removing DOM. For example, you can use the Polymer.Async module to defer work.

However, if you handle a data change asynchronously, note that the parameters passed to the observer may not match the element's current property values.

Simple observers

Simple observers are declared in the properties object, and always observe a single property. You shouldn't assume any particular initialization order for properties: if your observer depends on multiple properties being initialized, use a complex observer instead.

Simple observers are fired the first time the property becomes defined (!= undefined), and on every change thereafter, even if the property becomes undefined.

Simple observers only fire when the property itself changes. They don't fire on subproperty changes, or array mutation. If you need these changes, use a complex observer with a wildcard path, as described in Observe all changes related to a path.

There are two ways to declare a simple observer in the properties object:

• Identify a method on the element class by name
• Provide a direct reference to a method

The identified or referenced observer method receives the new and old values of the property as arguments.

The next section shows how to declare a simple property observer by name or by reference.

Observe a property

To observe a property, add an observer key to the property's declaration. You can either identify the observer method by name, or provide a direct reference to a method.

Example 1: Identify the observer method by name

class XCustom extends Polymer.Element {

  static get is() {return 'x-custom'; }

  static get properties() {
    return {
      active: {
        type: Boolean,
        // Observer method identified by name
        observer: '_activeChanged'
      }
    }
  }

  // Observer method defined as a class method
  _activeChanged(newValue, oldValue) {
    this.toggleClass('highlight', newValue);
  }
}

The observer method is usually defined on the class itself, although an observer method can also be defined by a superclass, subclass, or a class mixin, as long as the named method exists on the element.

Example 2: Provide a reference to an observer method

class XCustom extends Polymer.Element {

  static get is() {return 'x-custom'; }

  static get properties() {
    return {
      active: {
        type: Boolean,
        // Observer method
        observer(newValue, oldValue){
          this.toggleClass('highlight', newValue);
        }
      }
    }
  }

Warning: A single property observer shouldn't rely on any other properties, sub-properties, or paths because the observer can be called while these dependencies are undefined. See Always include dependencies as observer arguments for details.

Complex observers

Complex observers are declared in the observers array. Complex observers can monitor one or more paths. These paths are called the observer's dependencies.

static get observers() {
  return [
    // Observer method name, followed by a list of dependencies, in parenthesis
    'userListChanged(users.*, filter)'
  ]
}

Each dependency represents:

• A specific property (for example, firstName).

• A specific subproperty (for example, address.street).

• Mutations on a specific array (for example, users.splices).

• All subproperty changes and array mutations below a given path (for example, users.*).

The observer method is called with one argument for each dependency. The argument type varies depending on the path being observed.

• For simple property or subproperty dependencies, the argument is the new value of the property or subproperty.

• For array mutations the argument is a change record describing the change.

• For wildcard paths, the argument is a change record describing the change, including the exact path that changed.

Note that any of the arguments can be undefined when the observer is called.

Complex observers should only depend on their declared dependencies.

Related task:

• Observe multiple properties or paths
• Observe array changes
• Observe all changes to a path

Observe changes to multiple properties

To observe changes to a set of properties, use the observers array.

These observers differ from single-property observers in a few ways:

• Multi-property observers and computed properties run once at initialization if any dependencies are defined. After that, the observers run whenever there is an observable change to any dependency.

• Observers do not receive old values as arguments, only new values. Only single-property observers defined in the properties object receive both old and new values.

Example

class XCustom extends Polymer.Element {

  static get is() {return 'x-custom'; }

  static get properties() {
    return {
        preload: Boolean,
        src: String,
        size: String
    }
  }

  // Each item of observers array is a method name followed by
  // a comma-separated list of one or more dependencies.
  static get observers() {
    return [
        'updateImage(preload, src, size)'
    ]
  }

  // Each method referenced in observers must be defined in
  // element prototype. The arguments to the method are new value
  // of each dependency, and may be undefined.
  updateImage(preload, src, size) {
    // ... do work using dependent values
  }
}

In addition to properties, observers can also observe paths to sub-properties, paths with wildcards, or array changes.

Observe sub-property changes

To observe changes in object sub-properties:

• Define an observers array.
• Add an item to the observers array. The item must be a method name followed by a comma-separated list of one or more paths. For example, onNameChange(dog.name) for one path, or onNameChange(dog.name, cat.name) for multiple paths. Each path is a sub-property that you want to observe.
• Define the method in your element prototype. When the method is called, the argument to the method is the new value of the sub-property.

In order for Polymer to properly detect the sub-property change, the sub-property must be updated in one of the following two ways:

• Via a property binding.
• By calling set.

Example:

<dom-module id="x-custom">
  <template>
    <!-- Sub-property is updated via property binding. -->
    <input value="{{user.name::input}}">
  </template>
  <script>
    class XCustom extends Polymer.Element {

      static get is() {return 'x-custom'; }

      static get properties() {
        return {
          user: {
            type: Object,
            value: function() {
              return {};
            }
          }
        }
      }

      // Observe the name sub-property on the user object
      static get observers() {
        return [
            'userNameChanged(user.name)'
        ]
      }

      // For a property or sub-property dependency, the corresponding
      // argument is the new value of the property or sub-property
      userNameChanged(name) {
        if (name) {
          console.log('new name: ' + name);
        } else {
          console.log('user name is undefined');
        }

      }
    }
    customElements.define(XCustom.is, XCustom);
  </script>
</dom-module>

Observe array mutations

Use an array mutation observer to call an observer function whenever an array item is added or deleted using Polymer's array mutation methods. Whenever the array is mutated, the observer receives a change record representing the mutation as a set of array splices.

Polymer only calls the array mutation observer when the array items change, not for changes to the top-level array

In many cases, you'll want to observe both array mutations and changes to sub-properties of array items, in which case you should use a wildcard path, as described in Observe all changes related to a path.

Observable array mutation. Use Polymer's array mutation methods wherever possible to ensure that elements with registered interest in the array mutations are properly notified. If you can't avoid the native methods, you need to notify Polymer about array changes as described in Using native array mutation methods.

To create a splice observer, specify a path to an array followed by .splices in your observers array.

static get observers() {
  return [
    'usersAddedOrRemoved(users.splices)'
  ]
}

Your observer method should accept a single argument. When your observer method is called, it receives a change record of the mutations that occurred on the array. Each change record provides the following property:

• indexSplices. The set of changes that occurred to the array, in terms of array indexes. Each indexSplices record contains the following properties:

  • index. Position where the splice started.
  • removed. Array of removed items.
  • addedCount. Number of new items inserted at index.
  • object: A reference to the array in question.
  • type: The string literal 'splice'.

Change record may be undefined. The change record may be undefined the first time the observer is invoked, so your code should guard against this, as shown in the example.

Example

class XCustom extends Polymer.Element {

  static get is() {return 'x-custom'; }

  static get properties() {
    return {
      users: {
        type: Array,
        value: function() {
          return [];
        }
      }
    }
  }

  // Observe changes to the users array
  static get observers() {
    return [
      'usersAddedOrRemoved(users.splices)'
    ]
  }


  // For an array mutation dependency, the corresponding argument is a change record
  usersAddedOrRemoved(changeRecord) {
    if (changeRecord) {
      changeRecord.indexSplices.forEach(function(s) {
        s.removed.forEach(function(user) {
          console.log(user.name + ' was removed');
        });
        for (var i=0; i<s.addedCount; i++) {
          var index = s.index + i;
          var newUser = s.object[index];
          console.log('User ' + newUser.name + ' added at index ' + index);
        }
      }, this);
    }
  }

  ready() {
    super.ready();
    this.push('users', {name: "Jack Aubrey"});
  }
}

customElements.define(XCustom.is, XCustom);

Observe the length of an array

To create an observer on the length of an array, specify a path to an array followed by .length in your observers array:

static get observers() {
  return [
    'usersAddedOrRemoved(users.length)'
  ]
}

Your length observer method should accept a single argument (the new array length).

Observe all changes related to a path

To call an observer when any (deep) sub-property of an object or array changes, specify a path with a wildcard (*).

When you specify a path with a wildcard, the argument passed to your observer is a change record object with the following properties:

• path. Path to the property that changed. Use this to determine whether a property changed, a sub-property changed, or an array was mutated.
• value. New value of the path that changed.
• base. The object matching the non-wildcard portion of the path.

For array mutations, path is the path to the array that changed, followed by .splices. The value field includes the indexSplices property described in Observe array mutations.

Example:

<dom-module id="x-custom">
  <template>
    <input value="{{user.name.first::input}}"
           placeholder="First Name">
    <input value="{{user.name.last::input}}"
           placeholder="Last Name">
  </template>
  <script>
    class XCustom extends Polymer.Element {

      static get is() { return 'x-custom'; }

      static get properties() {
        return {
          user: {
            type: Object,
            value: function() {
              return {'name':{}};
            }
          }
        }
      }

      static get observers() {
        return [
            'userNameChanged(user.name.*)'
        ]
      }

      userNameChanged(changeRecord) {
        console.log('path: ' + changeRecord.path);
        console.log('value: ' + changeRecord.value);
      }
    }

    customElements.define(XCustom.is, XCustom);
  </script>
</dom-module>

Array mutations may also raise a change record for the length of the array. If an array mutation also caused the length of the array to change, a wildcard observer on an array path raises a separate change record for the array length. The path field of the length change record is the path to the array that changed, followed by .length. The value field is the new array length.

Identify all dependencies

Observers shouldn't rely on any properties, sub-properties, or paths other than those listed as dependencies of the observer. This creates "hidden" dependencies, which can result in unexpected behavior:

• The observer can be called before the hidden dependency is configured.
• The observer isn't called when the hidden dependency changes.

For example:

static get properties() {
  return {
    firstName: {
      type: String,
      observer: 'nameChanged'
    },
    lastName: {
      type: String
    }
  }
}

// WARNING: ANTI-PATTERN! DO NOT USE
nameChanged(newFirstName, oldFirstName) {
  // Not invoked when this.lastName changes
  var fullName = newFirstName + ' ' + this.lastName;
  // ...
}

Note that Polymer doesn't guarantee that properties are initialized in any particular order.

In general, if your observer relies on multiple dependencies, use a multi-property observer and list every dependency as an argument to the observer. This ensures that all dependencies are configured before the observer is called.

static get properties() {
  return {
    firstName: {
      type: String
    },
    lastName: {
      type: String
    }
  }
}

static get observers() {
  return [
    'nameChanged(firstName, lastName)'
  ]
}

nameChanged(firstName, lastName) {
  console.log('new name:', firstName, lastName);
}

If you must use a single property observer and must rely on other properties (for example, if you need access to the old value of the observed property, which you won't be able to access with a multi-property observer), take the following precautions:

• Check that all dependecies are defined (for example, if this.lastName !== undefined) before using them in your observer.

Keep in mind, however, that the observer is only called when one of the dependencies listed in its arguments changes. For example, if an observer relies on this.firstName but does not list it as a dependency, the observer is not called when this.firstName changes.

Computed properties

Computed properties are virtual properties computed on the basis of one or more paths. The computing function for a computed property follows the same rules as a complex observer, except that it returns a value, which is used as the value of the computed property.

As with complex observers, the computing function is run once at initialization if any dependencies are defined. After that, the function runs whenever there is an observable changes to any dependency.

Define a computed property

Polymer supports virtual properties whose values are calculated from other properties.

To define a computed property, add it to the properties object with a computed key mapping to a computing function:

fullName: {
  type: String,
  computed: 'computeFullName(first, last)'
}

The function is provided as a string with dependencies as arguments in parenthesis.

As with complex observers, the computing function is not invoked until at least one dependency is defined (!== undefined). Subsequently, the function is called once for any observable change to its dependencies.

Note: The definition of a computing function looks like the definition of a multi-property observer, and the two act almost identically. The only difference is that the computed property function returns a value that's exposed as a virtual property.

<dom-module id="x-custom">

  <template>
    My name is <span>{{fullName}}</span>
  </template>

  <script>
    class XCustom extends Polymer.Element {

      static get is() { return 'x-custom'; }

      static get properties() {
        return {
          first: String,

          last: String,

          fullName: {
            type: String,
            // when `first` or `last` changes `computeFullName` is called once
            // and the value it returns is stored as `fullName`
            computed: 'computeFullName(first, last)'
          }
        }
      }

      computeFullName(first, last) {
        return first + ' ' + last;
      }
    }

    customElements.define(XCustom.is, XCustom);
  </script>

</dom-module>

Arguments to computing functions may be simple properties on the element, as well as any of the arguments types supported by observers, including paths, paths with wildcards, and paths to array splices. The arguments received by the computing function match those described in the sections referenced above.

Note: If you only need a computed property for a data binding, you can use a computed binding instead. See Computed bindings.

Dynamic observer methods

If the observer method is declared in the properties object, the method is considered dynamic: the method itself may change during runtime. A dynamic method is considered an extra dependency of the observer, so the observer re-runs if the method itself changes. For example:

class NameCard extends Polymer.Element {

  static get is() {
    return 'name-card'
  }

  static get properties() {
    return {
      // Override default format by assigning a new formatter
      // function
      formatter: {
        type: Function
      },
      formattedName: {
        computed: 'formatter(name.title, name.first, name.last)'
      },
      name: {
        type: Object,
        value() {
         return { title: "", first: "", last: "" };
        }
      }
    }
  }

  constructor() {
    super();
    this.formatter = this.defaultFormatter;
  }

  defaultFormatter(title, first, last) {
    return `${title} ${first} ${last}`
  }
}
customElements.define('name-card', NameCard);

Setting a new value for formatter causes the formattedName property to update, even if the name property doesn't change:

nameCard.name = { title: 'Admiral', first: 'Grace', last: 'Hopper'}
console.log(nameCard.formattedName); // Admiral Grace Hopper
nameCard.formatter = function(title, first, last) {
  return `${last}, ${first}`
}
console.log(nameCard.formattedName); // Hopper, Grace

Since a dynamic observer property counts as a dependency, if the method is defined, the observer runs at initialization, even if none of the other dependencies are defined.

Add observers and computed properties dynamically

In some cases, you may want to add an observer or computed property dynamically. A set of instance methods allow you to add a simple observer, complex observer, or computed property to the current element instance.

Add a simple observer dynamically

You can create a simple observer dynamically using the _createPropertyObserver instance method. For example:

this._observedPropertyChanged = (newVal) => { console.log('observedProperty changed to ' + newVal); };
this._createPropertyObserver('observedProperty', '_observedPropertyChanged', true);

The optional third argument determines whether the method itself (in this case, _observedPropertyChanged) should be treated as a dependency.

Add a complex observer dynamically

You can create a computed property dynamically using the _createMethodObserver instance method. For example:

this._createMethodObserver('_observeSeveralProperties(prop1,prop2,prop3)', true);

The optional third argument determines whether the method itself (in this case, _observeSeveralProperties) should be treated as a dependency.

Add a computed property dynamically

You can create a computed property dynamically using the _createComputedProperty instance method. For example:

this._createComputedProperty('newProperty', '_computeNewProperty(prop1,prop2)', true);

The optional third argument determines whether the method itself (in this case, _computeNewProperty) should be treated as a dependency.