Node.js Exporting and Consuming Modules Module loading from node_modules
Example
Modules can be required without using relative paths by putting them in a special directory called node_modules.
For example, to require a module called foo from a file index.js, you can use the following directory structure:
index.js
\- node_modules
\- foo
|- foo.js
\- package.json
Modules should be placed inside a directory, along with a package.json file. The main field of the package.json file should point to the entry point for your module--this is the file that is imported when users do require('your-module'). main defaults to index.js if not provided. Alternatively, you can refer to files relative to your module simply by appending the relative path to the require call: require('your-module/path/to/file').
Modules can also be required from node_modules directories up the file system hierarchy. If we have the following directory structure:
my-project
\- node_modules
|- foo // the foo module
\- ...
\- baz // the baz module
\- node_modules
\- bar // the bar module
we will be able to require the module foo from any file within bar using require('foo').
Note that node will only match the module that is closest to the file in the filesystem hierarchy, starting from (the file's current directory/node_modules). Node matches directories this way up to the file system root.
You can either install new modules from the npm registry or other npm registries, or make your own.
