rhai/doc/src/language/modules/import.md
2020-07-08 09:48:25 +08:00

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Import a Module
===============
{{#include ../../links.md}}
`import` Statement
-----------------
A module can be _imported_ via the `import` statement, and its members are accessed via '`::`' similar to C++.
```rust
import "crypto" as lock; // import the script file 'crypto.rhai' as a module named 'lock'
lock::encrypt(secret); // use functions defined under the module via '::'
lock::hash::sha256(key); // sub-modules are also supported
print(lock::status); // module variables are constants
lock::status = "off"; // <- runtime error - cannot modify a constant
```
Scoped Imports
--------------
`import` statements are _scoped_, meaning that they are only accessible inside the scope that they're imported.
They can appear anywhere a normal statement can be, but in the vast majority of cases `import` statements are
group at the beginning of a script. It is not advised to deviate from this common practice unless
there is a _Very Good Reason™_.
Especially, do not place an `import` statement within a loop; doing so will repeatedly re-load the same module
during every iteration of the loop!
```rust
let mod = "crypto";
if secured { // new block scope
import mod as c; // import module (the path needs not be a constant string)
c::encrypt(key); // use a function in the module
} // the module disappears at the end of the block scope
c::encrypt(others); // <- this causes a run-time error because the 'crypto' module
// is no longer available!
for x in range(0, 1000) {
import "crypto" as c; // <- importing a module inside a loop is a Very Bad Idea™
c.encrypt(something);
}
```
Recursive Imports
----------------
Beware of _import cycles_ - i.e. recursively loading the same module. This is a sure-fire way to
cause a stack overflow in the [`Engine`], unless stopped by setting a limit for [maximum number of modules].
For instance, importing itself always causes an infinite recursion:
```rust
// This file is 'hello.rhai'
import "hello" as foo; // import itself - infinite recursion!
foo::do_something();
```
Modules cross-referencing also cause infinite recursion:
```rust
// This file is 'hello.rhai' - references 'world.rhai'
import "world" as foo;
foo::do_something();
// This file is 'world.rhai' - references 'hello.rhai'
import "hello" as bar;
bar::do_something_else();
```