React / React Native - absolute imports vs relative imports

When working with React or React Native projects, you might have encountered different ways of importing modules and components. Two commonly used approaches are absolute imports and relative imports. Both methods achieve the same goal of importing code, but they have different implications for project structure, maintainability, and readability. In this blog post, we'll explore the differences between these two import styles and discuss their benefits and use cases.

Relative Imports

Relative imports are used to import modules or components by specifying the path to the file relative to the current file's location. They use dot notation (e.g., ./ or ../) to navigate the file hierarchy. Here's an example:

The above import statement navigates two levels up in the file hierarchy from the current file and then looks for the component inside the components directory and so the globals, store and hooks.

Pros of Relative Imports:

1. Explicit Directory Navigation: Relative imports explicitly show the file path, making it clear where the module is located in relation to the current file.
2. Simplicity for Small Projects: In smaller projects with fewer nested directories, relative imports can be simple and easy to use.

Cons of Relative Imports:

1. Complexity in Large Projects: In larger projects with deep directory structures, relative imports can become cumbersome and less maintainable as you have to manage the correct number of dots ../ to navigate to the desired file.
2. Refactoring Challenges: If you move files around or change the directory structure, you need to update all relative import paths accordingly, which can be error-prone.

Absolute Imports

Absolute imports allow you to import modules or components using a module-like path without worrying about the file's location. Instead of navigating the file hierarchy with dots, you can specify an alias for the directories you want to import from. Here's an example:

The above import statement uses the components alias to directly import the Input component from the specified path, regardless of the file's location.

Pros of Absolute Imports:

1. Simplified Imports: Absolute imports lead to cleaner and more concise import statements, as you don't need to worry about complex relative paths.
2. Improved Readability: By eliminating the need for dot notation, absolute imports can improve code readability, especially in larger projects.
3. Easier Refactoring: Since imports don't depend on file locations, refactoring becomes more manageable and less error-prone.

Cons of Absolute Imports:

1. Initial Setup: Setting up aliases requires additional configuration in your project (e.g., metro.config.js or babel.config.js), which might be daunting for beginners.

Conclusion

Both absolute and relative imports have their merits, and the choice between them depends on the size and complexity of your React Native project. For smaller projects with shallow directory structures, relative imports may be sufficient and straightforward. However, as your project grows, and you encounter deeper nesting, absolute imports can greatly simplify your code and make it more maintainable.