Export Variables, Functions and Sub-Modules in Module =================================================== {{#include ../../links.md}} Export Global Variables ---------------------- The `export` statement, which can only be at global level, exposes selected variables as members of a module. Variables not exported are _private_ and hidden. They are merely used to initialize the module, but cannot be accessed from outside. Everything exported from a module is **constant** (i.e. read-only). ```rust // This is a module script. let hidden = 123; // variable not exported - default hidden let x = 42; // this will be exported below export x; // the variable 'x' is exported under its own name export x as answer; // the variable 'x' is exported under the alias 'answer' // another script can load this module and access 'x' as 'module::answer' { let inner = 0; // local variable - it disappears when the statement block ends, // therefore it is not 'global' and is not exported export inner; // exporting an temporary variable has no effect } ``` Export Functions ---------------- All functions are automatically exported, _unless_ it is explicitly opt-out with the [`private`] prefix. Functions declared [`private`] are hidden to the outside. ```rust // This is a module script. fn inc(x) { x + 1 } // script-defined function - default public private fn foo() {} // private function - hidden ``` [`private`] functions are commonly called to initialize the module. They cannot be called apart from this. Sub-Modules ----------- All loaded modules are automatically exported as sub-modules. To prevent a module from being exported, load it inside a block statement so that it goes away at the end of the block. ```rust // This is a module script. import "hello" as foo; // exported as sub-module 'foo' { import "world" as bar; // not exported - the module disappears at the end // of the statement block and is not 'global' } ```