exports vs. module.exports in Node

README.markdown

Exports vs. Module.exports

Exports is a helper that actually points to Module.exports. Exports is the recommended way to go, unless you need to chance the Object type of Module.exports. So generally:

Bad: Module.exports = {} Good: Exports.name = function(){}

exports-example.js

// In the real world, this would be saved as it's own file.

exports.name = function() {
  console.log('Hi!')
}

// In a separate file, you would call the above.

var thing = require('./thing');
thing.name(); // Hi!

module.exports-example.js

module.exports = 'Derp'
exports.name = function() {
  console.log('Hi!');
}

// Calling the above...
var thing = require('./thing');
thing.name(); // TypeError: Object 'Derp' has no method '.name'