Node’s require is CommonJS-based and loads modules synchronously, while ES6 import/export is part of the ECMAScript standard, allowing asynchronous, statically-analyzed module loading.
Understanding the key differences between these two approaches is important, as it influences how you structure your code, manage dependencies, and build modern JavaScript applications.
Node’s Require
require() is the module loading system used in Node.js, which is based on the CommonJS (CJS) module system, allowing the integration of core Node modules, community-based modules (node_modules), and local modules in a program. Primarily used for reading and executing JavaScript files, it returns the export object.
// Importing a module using CommonJS `require`
const fs = require('fs'); // Load the file system module
const myModule = require('./myModule'); // Load a custom local module
require('abc');
ES6 Import & Export
The ES6 (ECMAScript 2015) module system introduced import and export as part of the JavaScript language. It is a standardized way to handle modules that works both in Node.js and in modern browsers. Unlike require(), ES6 modules are statically analyzed, which means that the imports are determined and executed at compile time, not runtime.
// Importing submodule from // 'es-module-package/private-module.js'; import './private-module.js';
- For exporting file.
module.exports = 'A Computer Science Portal';