> could anyone please give me some insight, where the the IDLs > (and the code generated from them) are actually used ? > > Javascript bindings ?
They are typically used as an interface between C++ and JS code. As an example, consider nsIDocShell.idl [1]. This defines an interface named "nsIDocShell" with a bunch of attributes and methods. The IDL compiler generates a C++ binding for this, in the form of a header file [2] that declares an abstract base class, also named "nsIDocShell", which has pure virtual C++ methods corresponding to the IDL methods and attributes (in the case of attributes, a getter/setter pair is generated). There is then a concrete C++ class, nsDocShell [3], which inherits from nsIDocShell and implements the methods. Finally, the interface is made available for JS code to use, which can access its methods, attributes, etc. [4] The methods can also be called from C++ code [5], though typically there are at least some JS callers, otherwise the IDL wouldn't be necessary. Let me know if that answers your question. Cheers, Botond [1] http://searchfox.org/mozilla-central/rev/3a3af33f513071ea829debdfbc628caebcdf6996/docshell/base/nsIDocShell.idl#58 [2] http://searchfox.org/mozilla-central/source/__GENERATED__/dist/include/nsIDocShell.h [3] http://searchfox.org/mozilla-central/rev/3a3af33f513071ea829debdfbc628caebcdf6996/docshell/base/nsDocShell.h [4] http://searchfox.org/mozilla-central/rev/3a3af33f513071ea829debdfbc628caebcdf6996/browser/base/content/content.js#603 [5] http://searchfox.org/mozilla-central/rev/3a3af33f513071ea829debdfbc628caebcdf6996/accessible/generic/DocAccessible.cpp#355 _______________________________________________ dev-platform mailing list dev-platform@lists.mozilla.org https://lists.mozilla.org/listinfo/dev-platform
