How do I import many variables at once in javascript in NodeJS?

Question

Let's say I have a javascript module first_file.js:

var first = "first",
    second = "second",
    third = "third";

module.exports = {first, second, third};

How do I import these into another file in one line? The following only imports third:

var first, second, third = require('./path/to/first_file.js');

Looks like you only assigned it to the third variable. Why not use an object instead? — khollenbeck
– khollenbeck, Commented Jan 8, 2016 at 18:12

Mike Cluck · Accepted Answer · 2016-01-08 18:33:57Z

21

You're exporting an object with those properties. You can get them either using the object directly:

var obj = require('./path/to/first_file.js');
obj.first;
obj.second;
obj.third;

Or using destructuring:

var { first, second, third } = require('./path/to/first_file.js');

As of version 4.1.1, Node.js does not yet support destructuring out of the box.

edited Jan 8, 2016 at 18:33

answered Jan 8, 2016 at 18:12

Mike Cluck

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3 Comments

Felix Kling Over a year ago

Maybe worth noting that destructuring isn't supported in Node yet (by default).

samuelnihoul Over a year ago

So what should we do for it to support it?

Mike Cluck Over a year ago

@samuelnihoul Node 4 is waaay out of date. Any modern version of Node supports destructuring

madox2 · Accepted Answer · 2016-01-08 18:12:28Z

7

In ES6 (ECMAScript 2015) you can use object destructuring:

const { first, second, third } = require('./path/to/first_file.js');

answered Jan 8, 2016 at 18:12

madox2

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Comments

gnerkus · Accepted Answer · 2016-01-08 18:11:08Z

2

You could store them in an array:

module.exports = [first, second, third];

answered Jan 8, 2016 at 18:11

gnerkus

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9 Comments

Felix Kling Over a year ago

How is that better than an object?

djechlin Over a year ago

@FelixKling it depends on the problem. "first, second, third" imply homogeneity and since the names don't have any information other than, well, the index, an array may be better.

Felix Kling Over a year ago

@djechlin: that doesn't make a big difference regarding the issue though (how to import those values).

Felix Kling Over a year ago

@djechlin: The question is how to import multiple values. This answer suggests to use an array instead of an object. I don't see how that answers the question (that's basically what my comment implied).

Felix Kling Over a year ago

@djechlin: {first, second, third} is short object notation and is equivalent to {first: first, second: second, third: third}. It is valid code, hence my confusion about the array. The issue is with importing the value, not exporting it.

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