Default Export vs Named Export in React: Key Differences and Usage

In React, default export allows exporting a single value or component from a file, imported without curly braces. Named export lets you export multiple values or components by name, requiring curly braces when importing.

Quick Comparison

Here is a quick side-by-side comparison of default export and named export in React:

Aspect	Default Export	Named Export
Number of exports per file	One per file	Multiple per file
Import syntax	Without curly braces, e.g. import Component from './file'	With curly braces, e.g. import { Component } from './file'
Renaming on import	Can rename freely, e.g. import AnyName from './file'	Can rename using import { Component as Alias } from './file'
Use case	Exporting main or single component	Exporting multiple utilities or components
Error on missing export	Import fails if default export missing	Import fails if named export missing

Key Differences

Default export is used when a file exports a single main component or value. It simplifies import statements because you don't need curly braces and can name the import anything you want. This is helpful when the file's main purpose is one component.

Named export allows exporting multiple components or values from the same file. When importing, you must use curly braces and the exact exported names (or rename them explicitly). This is useful for grouping related components or helper functions together.

In React projects, default exports are common for main components, while named exports are preferred for utility functions or multiple components in one file. Mixing both is possible but should be done carefully to avoid confusion.

Code Comparison

Example of a React component using default export:

javascript

import React from 'react';

function Greeting() {
  return <h1>Hello, world!</h1>;
}

export default Greeting;

Output

<h1>Hello, world!</h1>

Named Export Equivalent

Same component using named export:

javascript

import React from 'react';

export function Greeting() {
  return <h1>Hello, world!</h1>;
}

Output

<h1>Hello, world!</h1>

When to Use Which

Choose default export when your file has one main React component or value to export. It makes importing simpler and clearer for that single purpose.

Choose named export when you want to export multiple components or helper functions from the same file. This keeps related code organized and allows selective imports.

For larger projects, prefer named exports for utilities and default exports for main components to keep code easy to understand and maintain.

Key Takeaways

Default export lets you export one main component per file and import it without curly braces.

Named export allows multiple exports per file and requires curly braces when importing.

Use default export for single main components and named export for multiple related components or utilities.

You can rename imports with both default and named exports but syntax differs.

Mixing both is possible but keep usage clear to avoid confusion.