Difference between export and export default in React.js

React.js, a popular JavaScript library for building user interfaces, offers a modular and component-based development approach. To effectively organize and share code in different parts of your application, React provides two ways to export functions, variables, or components: export and export default. In this blog post, we'll explore the key differences between these two methods, their use cases, and how they can help structure your feedback projects.

Understanding export

The export description allows you to export one or more variables, functions, or components from modules used in other parts of your application. You can export multiple values from one module, and you can give each exported value a name.

Syntax for Named Exports:

// Exporting multiple named values

export const value1 = 'Hello';

export const value2 = 'World';

Usage in Another Module:

import { value1, value2 } from './module';

console.log(value1); // Outputs: Hello

Named exports are ideal for exporting multiple values from one module and allowing them to be imported individually using restructuring.

Understanding export default

The export default statement is used to export a single value, function, or component from a module as the default export. There can only be one default export per module. When you import a default export, you can choose to import it with any name of your choice.

Syntax for Default Export:

// Exporting a single default value

const defaultValue = 'This is the default export';

export default defaultValue;

Usage in Another Module:

import myDefaultExport from './module';

console.log(myDefaultExport); // Outputs: This is the default export

Differences Between export and export default

Number of Exports:

export: Allows you to export multiple named values from a module.

export default: Permits the export of a single default value.

Import Naming:

export: Requires importing with the exact names specified in the module.

export default: Allows importing with any name of your choice.

Usage with Components:

export: Commonly used when exporting reusable React components individually.

export default: Useful for exporting the main or default component of a module.

Named vs. Default:

export: Requires specifying the names when importing, like { value1, value2 }.

export default: Allows you to name the import variable freely, like myDefaultExport.

When to Use export vs. export default

Use export when you want to export multiple values, functions, or components from a module, and you want to access them individually in other modules with their specific names.

Use the export default when you want to export a single, major, or default value, function, or component from a module, and you want flexibility in naming imported variables.

Example Scenario:

Imagine you have a React component module called Button.js that exports a single button component as the default export:

// Button.js

import React from 'react';

const Button = () => {

  return <button>Click Me</button>;

};

export default Button;

In another module, you can import and use the Button component as follows:

// AnotherModule.js

import React from 'react';

import CustomButton from './Button';

function App() {

  return (

    <div>

      <CustomButton />

    </div>

  );

}

Conclusion

In React.js, export and export defaults are required to organize and share code in different modules. Understanding when and how to use these two export methods is key to maintaining a structured and maintainable codebase. Whether you're exporting multiple values or a single default export, Response's modular approach allows you to create scalable and reusable components for your web applications.