Importing Remote JavaScript Functions in Your Project

OpenSource - Oct 25 '23 - - Dev Community

Ah, importing a function from a remote JavaScript file, huh? Now that's what I call living in the future. Not to worry, my friend, I've got you covered.

A Step-by-Step Guide on How to Fish a Function from the Internet Sea

Look, sometimes you find that gem of a function sailing on the internet, and you want to reel it into your code, right? No biggie. Here's how you do it like a pro.

Ingredients Required

  • A JavaScript file hosted remotely
  • Some knowledge of Webpack
  • Your local development setup

Instructions Fresh From the Oven

  1. Fetch The File: First thing you want to do is fetch the remote JavaScript file using a method like fetch or axios. You'll get a beautiful blob of text as a result.


fetch('https://remote-site.com/your-file.js')
  .then(response => response.text())
  .then(text => {
    // Do something with 'text'
  });


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  1. Eval Is Your New Best Friend: I know, I know, using eval feels like walking on a tightrope above a pit of snakes. But sometimes, you gotta do what you gotta do. Just make sure the remote JS is from a trusted source, capiche?


eval(text);


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  1. Invoke The Function: Once the eval has run, the function should be available globally, letting you call it like it's your neighbor asking for some sugar.


yourImportedFunction();

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Tips & Warnings

  • Be careful with eval, as it executes the code it's passed. Make sure your source is reliable.
  • If the remote JavaScript file is CORS restricted, you'll have to figure out a way to circumvent that, probably by using a server-side proxy.

Now You Know, So What's Next?

Alright, you got your function, what are you waiting for? Go make something cool with it!

  1. See our GitHub
  2. Explore WebCrumbs
  3. Dive into Code
  4. Join the Conversation
  5. Become a Maker

Become a Maker

Unresolved Mysteries

So there you have it. You know how to import a function from a remote JavaScript file. However, let's not forget, there are other methods like dynamic import(), and using Webpack's exotic features for code-splitting. Feel free to explore!

Take a bow, my friend, you've just expanded your toolkit.

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