Certainly! In ES6 modules, you can explicitly define what you want to export from a module using export statements, and then import those exports in other modules using import statements.
Here's a brief overview of how ES6 module exports and imports work:
1. Exporting in ES6 Modules:
- You can export variables, functions, classes, or even entire modules using the export keyword.
// utility.js
export const PI = 3.14159;
export function double(x) {
return x * 2;
}
2. Importing in ES6 Modules:
- You can import specific exports or the entire module using the import keyword.
import { PI, double } from './utility.js';
console.log(PI); // Output: 3.14159
console.log(double(5)); // Output: 10
3. Default Exports:
- You can also have a default export in an ES6 module, which is imported without braces.
// main.js
import someDefaultExport from './defaultExport.js';
4. Key Differences and Advantages compared to CommonJS:
- Static Analysis: ES6 modules are statically analyzable at compile time, making it easier for tools to optimize code splitting and dead code elimination.
- Named Exports: ES6 modules support named exports, allowing you to export multiple items from a single module easily.
- Tree Shaking: ES6 modules allow for tree-shaking, where unused exports can be eliminated by build tools, resulting in smaller bundle sizes.
- import() Function: ES6 modules support dynamic import() function for lazy loading modules when needed.
In contrast, CommonJS modules in Node.js use module.exports and require() statements, which are synchronous and do not lend themselves well to static analysis or tree shaking, making ES6 modules a more modern and efficient choice for JavaScript projects.
I hope this explanation helps clarify how ES6 module exports and imports work compared to CommonJS in Node.js. Let me know if you have any more questions!