JavaScript Academy · Lesson

CommonJS basics — require/module.exports and exports

Learn CommonJS: require(), module.exports, exports shortcut, and a small interop taste with ESM.

Lesson 2 of 38 steps

CommonJS basics — require/module.exports and exports is a free JavaScript Academy lesson on CoddyKit. This is lesson 2 of 3. Any 3 lessons of this learning path are free to read in full — after that, CoddyKit PRO unlocks every lesson, plus hands-on practice with a built-in code editor and a 24/7 AI tutor. It is part of the JavaScript Academy learning path, and your progress syncs across the web and the CoddyKit app. The JavaScript Academy course includes 3 lessons in total.

CJS: big picture

Goal: Read and write small CommonJS modules.

  • require() loads modules
  • module.exports is the export object
  • exports is a shortcut to the same object
  • Quick ESM interop taste
CommonJS basics — require/module.exports and exports — illustration 1

require() — idea

require(path) returns the module's exported object in CommonJS.

// CommonJS import uses require()
const cjsExample = [
  "const math = require(\\"./math.js\\");",
  "console.log(math.sum(2, 3));"
];

console.log("require() example:");
for (const line of cjsExample) console.log(line);

// Emulate a loaded module object
const loaded = { sum: function (a, b) { return a + b; } };
console.log("emulated require sum:", loaded.sum(2, 3));
CommonJS basics — require/module.exports and exports — illustration 2

module.exports

Assign a value to module.exports to export it (function, object, etc.).

// module.exports sets what the module returns
const lines1 = [
  "function greet(name) { return \\"Hi \\" + name; }",
  "module.exports = greet;"
];

console.log("module.exports example:");
for (const l of lines1) console.log(l);

// Emulate consumption
function greet(name) { return "Hi " + name; }
const api1 = greet; // like module.exports = greet
console.log("use exported fn:", api1("Ayla"));
CommonJS basics — require/module.exports and exports — illustration 3

exports shortcut

exports.prop = ... is fine; do not reassign exports = ... because it no longer points to module.exports.

// exports is a shortcut to module.exports (same object)
const lines2 = [
  "// Good: add properties",
  "exports.sum = function (a, b) { return a + b; };",
  "",
  "// Pitfall: reassigning exports breaks the link",
  "exports = function () {}; // WRONG"
];

console.log("exports shortcut:");
for (const l of lines2) console.log(l);

// Emulate good usage
const moduleObj = {};
const exportsRef = moduleObj;  // like exports === module.exports initially
exportsRef.sum = function (a, b) { return a + b; };
console.log("sum via exportsRef:", moduleObj.sum(2, 4));
CommonJS basics — require/module.exports and exports — illustration 4

Multiple exports

You can export an object holding many functions and read them via properties.

// Export an object with multiple members
const lines3 = [
  "function add(a, b) { return a + b; }",
  "function mul(a, b) { return a * b; }",
  "module.exports = { add, mul };"
];

console.log("multiple exports object:");
for (const l of lines3) console.log(l);

// Emulate consumption
const api2 = {
  add: function (a, b) { return a + b; },
  mul: function (a, b) { return a * b; }
};
console.log("use add/mul:", api2.add(1, 2), api2.mul(2, 3));
CommonJS basics — require/module.exports and exports — illustration 5

ESM ↔ CJS taste

Interop (taste):

  • ESM importing CJS often receives the CJS module.exports as the default.
  • Example: import pkg from "./cjs.js" then use pkg.add().
  • Keep examples simple; avoid mixing styles in one file unless you must.
CommonJS basics — require/module.exports and exports — illustration 6

CJS export syntax quiz

Quick check: Export in CommonJS.

CommonJS basics — require/module.exports and exports — illustration 7

Recap

Recap: Load with require(), export with module.exports, add properties via exports.prop, and avoid reassigning exports. ESM interop often maps CJS module.exports to a default.

CommonJS basics — require/module.exports and exports — illustration 8
Free to start

Learn JavaScript with an AI tutor — free

Write and run real code in your browser, get instant help from a 24/7 AI tutor, and pick up where you left off on the web or in the app.

Courses
59
Lessons
200

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the “CommonJS basics — require/module.exports and exports” lesson free?

Yes — any 3 lessons of the JavaScript Academy learning path, including “CommonJS basics — require/module.exports and exports”, are free to read in full here on the web. After that, CoddyKit PRO unlocks every lesson, plus interactive practice with a built-in code editor and a 24/7 AI tutor. The JavaScript Academy course includes 3 lessons in total.

What will I learn in “CommonJS basics — require/module.exports and exports”?

Learn CommonJS: require(), module.exports, exports shortcut, and a small interop taste with ESM. You practise JavaScript Academy with hands-on code you run directly in the browser, and a 24/7 AI tutor answers your questions as you work through the lesson.

Do I need any experience to start JavaScript Academy?

No prior experience is required. JavaScript Academy on CoddyKit is structured for beginners through advanced learners, so you can start here or from the beginning and move at your own pace. This is lesson 2 of 3.

How long does the “CommonJS basics — require/module.exports and exports” lesson take?

Most CoddyKit lessons take about 5–10 minutes. Each one is bite-sized and interactive, so you make steady progress and pick up exactly where you left off across the web and the app.

Can I write and run code in this JavaScript Academy lesson?

Yes. Every JavaScript Academy lesson includes a built-in code editor, so you write and run real code right in your browser and get instant AI feedback — no local setup required.

All lessons in this course

  1. ESM basics — import/export, default vs named
  2. CommonJS basics — require/module.exports and exports
  3. Module resolution in Node and browser bundlers
← Back to JavaScript Academy