How to import/include source files in JavaScript?

javascript client-side
Michael picture Michael · Jun 28, 2012 · Viewed 60k times · Source

Possible Duplicate:
How to include js file in another js file?

Suppose I have a few JavaScript source files: a.js, a1.js, and a2.js. Functions of a.js invoke functions from a1.js and a2.js.

Now I have to declare all these files in my HTML page. I would like to declare only a.js in the HTML and "import/include" a1.js, and a2.js in the a.js source file.

Does it make sense? Can I do that in JavaScript?

Answer

Denys Séguret picture Denys Séguret · Jun 28, 2012

You can't specify imports in vanilla javascript.

So your solutions (excluding heavy server side frameworks) are :

  • simply do the imports

  • concatenate your js files (and minify them in the same move, for exemple using the closure compiler)

  • use a module itool like require.js

As long as you're not experienced, and if your number of files is low (less than 15), I recommend to simply choose the first or second solution. Using a module loader may have side effects you don't want to debug when beginning to learn javascript.

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