What is the difference between module.exports and export in Node.js?

What is the difference between module.exports and export in Node.js?

In Node.js, module.exports is used to export a single value or object from a module, while exports is a shorthand for module.exports that allows you to add properties to the exported object.

Can you give me an example of how to use both?

Sure! For module.exports, you might have:

// myModule.js
module.exports = function() { return 'Hello from module.exports!'; };

And for exports, you could do:

// myModule.js
exports.greet = function() { return 'Hello from exports!'; };

Both can be imported in another file.

Are there any scenarios where one is preferred over the other?

Yes, if you want to export a single function or class, use module.exports. If you want to export multiple functions or properties, exports is more convenient.

What happens if I assign a new value to exports?

If you assign a new value to exports, it breaks the reference to module.exports. To avoid this, always use module.exports for single exports.