How to Successfully Reference Internal Functions in module.exports for Node.js

Discover the best methods to reference internal functions within `module.exports` in Node.js. Learn effective strategies with clear examples and explanations. --- This video is based on the question https://stackoverflow.com/q/64776730/ asked by the user 'Pete' ( https://stackoverflow.com/u/9101619/ ) and on the answer https://stackoverflow.com/a/64776841/ provided by the user 'Bergi' ( https://stackoverflow.com/u/1048572/ ) at 'Stack Overflow' website. Thanks to these great users and Stackexchange community for their contributions. Visit these links for original content and any more details, such as alternate solutions, latest updates/developments on topic, comments, revision history etc. For example, the original title of the Question was: How to Reference internal function in single module.exports Also, Content (except music) licensed under CC BY-SA https://meta.stackexchange.com/help/l... The original Question post is licensed under the 'CC BY-SA 4.0' ( https://creativecommons.org/licenses/... ) license, and the original Answer post is licensed under the 'CC BY-SA 4.0' ( https://creativecommons.org/licenses/... ) license. If anything seems off to you, please feel free to write me at vlogize [AT] gmail [DOT] com. --- How to Successfully Reference Internal Functions in module.exports for Node.js When working with Node.js, you may encounter situations where you need to reference an internal function within your module.exports. An example of this is needing to call a helper function, such as getCursor, from within another function, getOffsetCustom. This can be a bit tricky, especially if you would like to keep your code clean and organized. In this post, we'll explore the different ways you can achieve this and the pros and cons of each method. The Problem: Accessing Internal Functions Here’s the code we are working with: [[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]] In the code above, we want the getOffsetCustom function to utilize the getCursor function. However, referencing getCursor directly within getOffsetCustom doesn't work as we might expect. Let’s look at some solutions! Solution 1: Reference module.exports Directly One straightforward approach is to reference the module.exports directly within the getOffsetCustom function. Here's how to implement it: [[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]] Pros Simple and clear approach, easy to implement. Cons Requires the module.exports prefix, which can make the code slightly messier. Solution 2: Using Methods and this Keyword Another approach is to use regular function definitions instead of arrow functions. This allows you to use this to reference other methods within the same exports object: [[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]] Pros Cleaner syntax without needing to repeat module.exports each time. It’s intuitive for those familiar with object-oriented JavaScript. Cons This method requires that methods are always called from the module object, which can limit flexibility (e.g., you cannot use destructuring during import). Solution 3: Declare Normal Functions and Export Them The preferred way is to declare your functions first and then export them using Object.assign. This approach maintains clarity and allows for easier testing and mocking: [[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]] Pros Cleaner structure and easier testing. Ensures that getOffsetCustom always refers to the local getCursor. Cons If you need to hotpatch or mock the exported functions, this method may not cater to those scenarios well. Conclusion In summary, while referencing internal functions in module.exports can initially seem challenging, there are multiple effective strategies to resolve the issue. Depending on your specific needs and preferences, you can choose from the three solutions we've discussed. By incorporating these techniques, you can ensure that your Node.js utilities remain organized, efficient, and easy to understand as your application grows.