JS - How to access a module.exports function in the same file

Question

I have a function that looks like:

module.exports = myFunction() {
  //do some stuff
}

I can access it fine from other file using var myFunction = require(.thepath.js)

However how can i access it from the file that it was created.

I've tried myFunction() and this.myFunction() but neither work.

Thanks

https://stackoverflow.com/questions/5311334/what-is-the-purpose-of-node-js-module-exports-and-how-do-you-use-it — shaN, Aug 30 '17 at 06:04

Get Off My Lawn · Accepted Answer · 2017-08-30T06:04:18.020

5

You can save it to a variable then export the variable like so:

// Create the function
const myFunction = function() {

}

// Call the function
myFunction();

// Export the function
module.exports = myFunction

edited Aug 30 '17 at 06:04

answered Aug 30 '17 at 06:02

Get Off My Lawn

1

better use const over let – Álvaro Touzón Aug 30 '17 at 06:04
@ÁlvaroTouzón - the answer is looking good but for my undertasnidng why `const` over `let`? – userMod2 Aug 30 '17 at 06:08
`const` means that the variable will never change whereas `let` means it could change. – Get Off My Lawn Aug 30 '17 at 06:10
because this is a invariable method, and make it no chaged over others – Álvaro Touzón Aug 30 '17 at 06:12
@GetOffMyLawn thanks - so that function returns some variables I presume when you say 'nothing will change' that doesnt apply to the response return provides. of course I tested this and it didnt but good to confirm :) – userMod2 Aug 30 '17 at 06:18
@userMod2 when using a const the value root itself won't change (string, integer, array, function, etc.). However.... in objects when using a const, you can change the child objects values. – Get Off My Lawn Aug 30 '17 at 06:21
@GetOffMyLawn Awesome - thanks once again! Appreciated – userMod2 Aug 30 '17 at 06:21

skylize · Answer 2 · 2017-08-30T06:10:50.077

1

You could actually use an anonyomous function here if you didn't want to call it in the same file

module.exports = function (){
    // do some stuff
}

~~As long as you give it a name, you can just call it by using its name.~~

~~module.exports = function myFunction(){~~

~~// do some stuff~~ }

myFunction()

Sorry, I remembered this incorrectly. There is a scoping problem here that can be solved by defining the function seperately from the assignment.

function myFunction (){
    // do some stuff
}
module.exports = myFunction

myFunction()

edited Aug 30 '17 at 06:10

answered Aug 30 '17 at 06:04

skylize

I need to use it in the same file – userMod2 Aug 30 '17 at 06:05
I updated this response, I made a clear mistake in my original answer. – skylize Aug 30 '17 at 06:13
Also, here's a fun variant that you shouldn't actually use because it will bewilder anyone else trying to reading your code. Once you've assigned a function to `module.exports`, just call `module.exports();` to run it. =P – skylize Aug 30 '17 at 06:17

score 1 · Answer 3 · answered Aug 30 '17 at 06:05

1

var func = module.exports = myFunction(){
   //do some stuff here
}

Now you can access through variable.

answered Aug 30 '17 at 06:05

aaqib90

3 Answers3