Can anyone explain why this is a constructor? As far as I understand, it's just a convenient wrapper for $.ajax, which isn't a constructor.
Also, what is the correct way to use this when there's multiple requests? Do I have to make a variable for each request (lest jshint whine at me for using new for "side effects"), or can I just use the one? Eg:
var api = new mw.Api();
api.get('foo');
api.get('bar');
(which seems to work fine, by the way)
The class is a wrapper around $.ajax. However, one of the pieces of functionality it adds is being able to store options that apply to all requests using the object (unless overridden by the individual request). See https://doc.wikimedia.org/mediawiki-core/master/js/#!/api/mw.Api . Your example above is not using new for side effects. In fact, the constructor really doesn't have side effects. It creates a mw.Api object, but to use that object for a network request, you need to call further methods (which the example above does).
This post was posted by Mattflaschen, but signed as Superm401.