Typescript Export Vs Default Export

When working with TypeScript, one topic that often confuses developers is the difference between `export` and `export default`. Understanding these concepts is crucial for efficiently managing your code base and improving code organization. In this article, we will delve into the distinction between TypeScript `export` and `export default` statements and how they impact your development workflow.

Let's start by exploring the `export` statement in TypeScript. When you use `export` in your code, you are explicitly indicating that a particular function, variable, or class is accessible outside the current module. This means that other modules can import and use the exported entity in their code. For example, if you have a utility function that you want to make available to other parts of your application, you can use `export` to expose it.

On the other hand, the `export default` statement serves a slightly different purpose. Unlike `export`, `export default` allows you to export only a single function, class, or value from a module. This means that when another module imports from a module that has a `default` export, it can directly reference that default entity without needing to specify the name. This can be especially useful when you have a primary function or class that serves as the main entry point for your module.

To further illustrate the difference between `export` and `export default`, consider the following examples:

// Export statement
export function add(a: number, b: number): number {
    return a + b;
}

export const PI = 3.14;

In this code snippet, we are using the `export` statement to make the `add` function and the `PI` constant available for import in other modules.

// Export default statement
export default function greet(name: string): string {
    return `Hello, ${name}!`;
}

In this example, we are using `export default` to export the `greet` function as the default entity of the module.

When it comes to importing modules that use `export` and `export default`, there is a slight difference in syntax. When importing an entity that was exported using the `export` statement, you need to specify the name of the entity you want to import within curly braces. For example:

import { add, PI } from './math';

On the other hand, when importing a default export, you can name the imported entity as you like, without needing to use curly braces:

import myGreetFunction from './greetings';

In summary, `export` and `export default` are essential tools in TypeScript for managing module exports and imports. Understanding the difference between these two statements will not only help you structure your code more efficiently but also make it easier for other developers to work with your code. By mastering these concepts, you can take your TypeScript coding skills to the next level and create more robust and maintainable applications.