importing and running functions from javascript files with node

Question

I have a simple javascript question. I have two files, a.js and b.js defined in the same directory.

Within a.js I define a function:

function foo() {
console.log('Hello World!');
}

in b.js I have:

var a = require('./../scenarios/a.js');
a.foo();

However, when I run node b.js, I get:

b.js:4
a.foo();
  ^

TypeError: a.foo is not a function
    at Object.<anonymous> (/Users/dlumma/dev/bloomguild-applitools-sunbasket/scenarios/b.js:4:3)
    at Module._compile (module.js:573:30)
    at Object.Module._extensions..js (module.js:584:10)
    at Module.load (module.js:507:32)
    at tryModuleLoad (module.js:470:12)
    at Function.Module._load (module.js:462:3)
    at Function.Module.runMain (module.js:609:10)
    at startup (bootstrap_node.js:158:16)
    at bootstrap_node.js:598:3

Any clue what I am doing wrong?

Dominic K · Accepted Answer · 2017-08-31 21:59:55Z

1

You need to export the function before accessing it.

a.js:

function foo() {
console.log('Hello World!');
}

exports.foo = foo;

You should then be able to access it in b.js.

answered Aug 31, 2017 at 21:59

Dominic K

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Kristianmitk · Accepted Answer · 2017-08-31 22:00:46Z

1

Within a.js:

module.exports = {
    foo: function() {
        console.log('Hello World!');
    }
}

Then in b.js:

var a = require('./scenarios/a.js');
a.foo();

answered Aug 31, 2017 at 22:00

Kristianmitk

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Denali Lumma · Accepted Answer · 2017-09-01 02:07:29Z

0

I was able to figure this out! module.exports needs to be defined. Ah the joys of learning JavaScript from the beginning!

b.js is:

var a = require('./../scenarios/a.js');
a.foo();

a.js is:

function foo() {
    console.log('Hello World!');
}

module.exports = {
    foo: foo
}

answered Sep 1, 2017 at 2:07

Denali Lumma

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