My super-long file (main.js) works fine as is. But I want to split out the functions dealing with 'y' into a separate file for organization. In PHP I would use require('yfunctions.php') and be done with it.

Is there an equivalent in javascript that doesn't require rewriting the function calls?

main.js:

// do stuff

function first(x){
  // do stuff with x
}

function second(y){
  // do stuff to y
  // return y
}

function third(y){
  // do stuff with y
}

ultimately bees:

main.js:

require('yfunctions.js');
// do stuff

function first(x){
  // do stuff with x
}

yfunctions.js:

function second(y){
  // do stuff to y
  // return y
}

function third(y){
  // do stuff with y
}

The above does not work (it seems). Do I have to add an "exports" declaration to each function in yfunctions.js? Is there not a way to say "export every function in this file as a function?"

(Note, I'm working with node.js / electron ... but I'm curious for general knowledge about how javascript works.)

My super-long file (main.js) works fine as is. But I want to split out the functions dealing with 'y' into a separate file for organization. In PHP I would use require('yfunctions.php') and be done with it.

Is there an equivalent in javascript that doesn't require rewriting the function calls?

main.js:

// do stuff

function first(x){
  // do stuff with x
}

function second(y){
  // do stuff to y
  // return y
}

function third(y){
  // do stuff with y
}

ultimately bees:

main.js:

require('yfunctions.js');
// do stuff

function first(x){
  // do stuff with x
}

yfunctions.js:

function second(y){
  // do stuff to y
  // return y
}

function third(y){
  // do stuff with y
}

The above does not work (it seems). Do I have to add an "exports" declaration to each function in yfunctions.js? Is there not a way to say "export every function in this file as a function?"

(Note, I'm working with node.js / electron ... but I'm curious for general knowledge about how javascript works.)

• javascript
• node.js

Share Improve this question Follow edited Apr 12, 2017 at 12:35 Sayuri Mizuguchi 5,33033 gold badges2929 silver badges5757 bronze badges asked Apr 12, 2017 at 12:23 Trees4theForestTrees4theForest 1,39644 gold badges2222 silver badges5353 bronze badges

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2 Answers 2

Sorted by: Reset to default 5

Use module.exports to export members of a module. In your example:

module.exports.second = second;
module.exports.third = third;

function second(y){
  // do stuff to y
  // return y
}
    
function third(y){
  // do stuff with y
}

There's no option to automatically export all members of a module.

If you're working in ES6, the above could be simplified to:

module.exports = {
  second,
  third
};

function second(y){
  // do stuff to y
  // return y
}
    
function third(y){
  // do stuff with y
}

Lastly, in your main.js you can call the exported functions of other modules by assigning a name to the require statement:

const yfunctions = require('./yfunctions');

yfunctions.second(y);

In this case you have to use module exports, and use require to exports the functions in other archive. And after you can use, check my example

functions.js

module.exports = {
  foo: function () {
    // do something
  },
  bar: function () {
    // do something
  }
};

var tryit = function () {
}

Use functions from functions.js

var callFunction = require('./functions');
console.log(typeof callFunction .foo); // => 'function'
console.log(typeof callFunction .bar); // => 'function'
console.log(typeof callFunction .tryit); // => undefined because does not use exports