2020-09-10 17:42:53 +08:00

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Export Variables, Functions and Sub-Modules in Module
===================================================
{{#include ../../links.md}}
A _module_ is a single script (or pre-compiled [`AST`]) containing global variables, functions and sub-modules.
A module can be created from a script via the `Module::eval_ast_as_new` method. When given an [`AST`],
it is first evaluated, then the following items are exposed as members of the new module:
* Global variables - essentially all variables that remain in the [`Scope`] at the end of a script run - that are exported. Variables not exported (via the `export` statement) remain hidden.
* Functions not specifically marked `private`.
* Global modules that remain in the [`Scope`] at the end of a script run.
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 to the outside.
Everything exported from a module is **constant** (**read-only**).
```rust
// This is a module script.
let private = 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
}
```
[`private`] variables are used to initialize the module.
They cannot be used apart from this.
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'
}
```