Can I Use An Es6 2015 Module Import To Set A Reference In Global Scope

When working with ES6 modules in your JavaScript projects, you may find yourself wondering if you can set a reference to an imported module in the global scope. This can be a useful technique to make certain variables or functions available throughout your codebase without having to import the module in every file where you need it.

ES6 introduced the "import" statement, which allows you to import functionalities from other modules or files easily. By default, ES6 modules are scoped to the file in which they are imported. This means that when you import a module, its contents are only available within the file where the import statement is used.

However, if you want to make a module available globally, you can achieve this by attaching it to the "window" object in the browser environment. By doing this, you make the module accessible from anywhere in your JavaScript code. Here's how you can accomplish this:

Let's say you have a module named "myModule" that you want to import globally. In your JavaScript file, you can import the module using the ES6 module syntax:

import * as myModule from './myModule.js'; // Assuming myModule.js is the filename

To make this module available globally, you can attach it to the window object:

window.myModule = myModule;

By doing so, you are setting a reference to the imported module in the global scope. Now, you can access the functionalities exported by "myModule" anywhere in your code using the "myModule" variable.

It's worth noting that while attaching modules to the global scope can be convenient in some cases, it is generally not recommended due to potential naming conflicts and code maintainability issues. It's considered a best practice to explicitly import modules where you need them to keep your code clean and clear.

Another approach to achieving global accessibility without polluting the global scope is to use a module bundler like Webpack or Rollup. These tools allow you to bundle your modules into a single file, making it easy to share code across different parts of your application without relying on the global scope.

In conclusion, while you can use ES6 module imports to set a reference in the global scope by attaching it to the "window" object, it is advisable to leverage module bundlers and follow modern modular development practices to keep your code organized and maintainable.