Adding external javascript files on node.js

Question

I have a node server and I want to add an external .js file (say something.js). I have this code for now:

var st = require('./js/something');

Where something.js is the JavaScript file inside a /js/ folder. The server compiles and run, but when I try to use functions defined in something.js node tells me they are not defined.

I also tried to run them using like st.s() but nothing happens and I have an error saying that the object has no method s().

Can anyone help me?

Thanks,

EDIT:

logging st gives {} (I obtain it from console.log(JSON.stringify(st)). Also doing console.log(st) gives {} as result.

The content of something.js is just a bunch of functions defined like this

function s() {
    alert("s");
}

function t() {
    alert("t");
}

Use exports: http://stackoverflow.com/questions/5939423/node-js-module-export-system-is-it-possible-to-export-a-module-as-a-function — malletjo, Dec 14 '11 at 16:58
You don't need to convert it to JSON. Just do `console.dir( st );`... — Šime Vidas, Dec 14 '11 at 17:01
Racar can you please be more specific about exports? I didn't get from that question how to use them, or how should I use them in this case. — Masiar, Dec 14 '11 at 17:04
in your something.js file, do " module.exports = { st: function() { console.log('test'); } } ". — alessioalex, Dec 14 '11 at 17:22

score 10 · Accepted Answer · answered Dec 14 '11 at 18:42

10

Node.js uses the CommonJS module format. Essentially values that are attached to the exports object are available to users of the module. So if you are using a module like this

var st = require('./js/something');
st.s();
st.t();

Your module has to export those functions. So you need to attach them to the exports object.

exports.s = function () {
    console.log("s");
}

exports.t = function () {
    console.log("t");
}

answered Dec 14 '11 at 18:42

DHamrick

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3

How would you import a script from an external URL (for example, http://javascript-modules.googlecode.com/svn/functionChecker.js)? Using `require("http://javascript-modules.googlecode.com/svn/functionChecker.js");` doesn't seem to work. – Anderson Green Jan 01 '13 at 21:53
Agreed! See http://stackoverflow.com/questions/4481058/load-and-execute-external-js-file-in-node-js-with-access-to-local-variables – Jul 08 '16 at 18:36

Adding external javascript files on node.js

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