var basketModule = (function () { // privates var basket = []; function doSomethingPrivate() { //... } function doSomethingElsePrivate() { //... } // Return an object exposed to the public return { // Add items to our basket addItem: function( values ) { basket.push(values); }, // Get the count of items in the basket getItemCount: function () { return basket.length; }, // Public alias to a private function doSomething: doSomethingPrivate, // Get the total value of items in the basket getTotal: function () { var q = this.getItemCount(), p = 0; while (q--) { p += basket[q].price; } return p; } }; }()); // basketModule returns an object with a public API we can use basketModule.addItem({ item: "bread", price: 0.5 }); basketModule.addItem({ item: "butter", price: 0.3 }); // Outputs: 2 console.log( basketModule.getItemCount() ); // Outputs: 0.8 console.log( basketModule.getTotal() ); // However, the following will not work: // Outputs: undefined // This is because the basket itself is not exposed as a part of our // the public API console.log( basketModule.basket ); // This also won't work as it only exists within the scope of our // basketModule closure, but not the returned public object console.log( basket );