Call an overridden method in base class constructor in typescript

When I'm calling an overridden method from the base class constructor, I cannot get a value of a sub class property correctly.

Example:

class A
{
    constructor()
    {
        this.MyvirtualMethod();
    }

    protected MyvirtualMethod(): void
    {

    }
}

class B extends A
{
    private testString: string = "Test String";

    public MyvirtualMethod(): void
    {
        alert(this.testString); // This becomes undefined
    }
}

I would like to know how to correctly override functions in typescript.

The key is calling the parent's method using super.methodName();

class A {
	// A protected method
	protected doStuff()
	{
		alert("Called from A");
	}
	
	// Expose the protected method as a public function
	public callDoStuff()
	{
		this.doStuff();
	}
}

class B extends A {
	
	// Override the protected method
	protected doStuff()
	{
		// If we want we can still explicitly call the initial method
		super.doStuff();
		alert("Called from B");
	}
}

var a = new A();
a.callDoStuff(); // Will only alert "Called from A"

var b = new B()
b.callDoStuff(); // Will alert "Called from A" then "Called from B"

Try it here

The order of execution is:

1. A's constructor
2. B's constructor

The assignment occurs in B's constructor after A's constructor—_super—has been called:

function B() {
    _super.apply(this, arguments);   // MyvirtualMethod called in here
    this.testString = "Test String"; // testString assigned here
}

So the following happens:

var b = new B();     // undefined
b.MyvirtualMethod(); // "Test String"

You will need to change your code to deal with this. For example, by calling this.MyvirtualMethod() in B's constructor, by creating a factory method to create the object and then execute the function, or by passing the string into A's constructor and working that out somehow... there's lots of possibilities.

If you want a super class to call a function from a subclass, the cleanest way is to define an abstract pattern, in this manner you explicitly know the method exists somewhere and must be overridden by a subclass.

This is as an example, normally you do not call a sub method within the constructor as the sub instance is not initialized yet… (reason why you have an "undefined" in your question's example)

abstract class A {
    // The abstract method the subclass will have to call
    protected abstract doStuff():void;

    constructor(){
     alert("Super class A constructed, calling now 'doStuff'")
     this.doStuff();
    }
}

class B extends A{

    // Define here the abstract method
    protected doStuff()
    {
        alert("Submethod called");
    }
}

var b = new B();

Test it Here

And if like @Max you really want to avoid implementing the abstract method everywhere, just get rid of it. I don't recommend this approach because you might forget you are overriding the method.

abstract class A {
    constructor() {
        alert("Super class A constructed, calling now 'doStuff'")
        this.doStuff();
    }

    // The fallback method the subclass will call if not overridden
    protected doStuff(): void {
        alert("Default doStuff");
    };
}

class B extends A {
    // Override doStuff()
    protected doStuff() {
        alert("Submethod called");
    }
}

class C extends A {
    // No doStuff() overriding, fallback on A.doStuff()
}

var b = new B();
var c = new C();

Try it Here

below is an generic example

    //base class
    class A {
        
        // The virtual method
        protected virtualStuff1?():void;
    
        public Stuff2(){
            //Calling overridden child method by parent if implemented
            this.virtualStuff1 && this.virtualStuff1();
            alert("Baseclass Stuff2");
        }
    }
    
    //class B implementing virtual method
    class B extends A{
        
        // overriding virtual method
        public virtualStuff1()
        {
            alert("Class B virtualStuff1");
        }
    }
    
    //Class C not implementing virtual method
    class C extends A{
     
    }
    
    var b1 = new B();
    var c1= new C();
    b1.Stuff2();
    b1.virtualStuff1();
    c1.Stuff2();