NextJS with Import Alias : Simplifying Module Imports

Welcome to guide on simplifying module imports in NextJS using import alias ! If you ever struggled with long and confusing import paths in your NextJS projects. you’re in the right place. In this blog we will explore how NextJS import alias can make your development process smoother.

what is import alias in nextJS ?

NextJS import alias are like custom shortcuts for referencing modules in your code. Instead of using long and messy paths NextJS import alias let you use simple and clear shortcuts. This not only makes your code easier to read but also helps a lot when you are working on big projects.

For example instead of writing this:

// Importing Header component using a relative path
import Header from '../../../components/Header';

You can use a Next js import alias like this:

// Importing Header component using an import alias
import Header from '@components/Header';

This code block shows the same import statement but using a Next js import alias (@components) to reference the “components” directory directly. This results in cleaner and more readable code.

Setting Up NextJS Import Alias

Create Configuration File

First of you will need to create a configuration file. If you are using JavaScript than make a file named jsconfig.json. If you are using TypeScript it’s tsconfig.json.

// Example configuration file (jsconfig.json or tsconfig.json)
{
  "compilerOptions": {
    "baseUrl": "./",
    "paths": {
      "**@components/*": ["components/*"],
      "**@styles/*": ["styles/*"],
      "**@utils/*": ["utils/*"]
    }
  },
  "include": ["next-env.d.ts", "**/*.ts", "**/*.tsx"]
}

This code block shows the content of a configuration file (either jsconfig.json or tsconfig.json) where Next js import aliases are defined. Each alias (@components, @styles, @utils) is mapped to its related directory.

Define alias

Now let’s define your Next js import alias in this file. Each alias should point to the folder it represents.

restart development server

After setting up the alias remember to restart your NextJS development server to make the changes take effect.

Best Practices for Using NextJS Import Alias

• Use clear and descriptive alias names.
• Keep your alias naming consistent across your project.
• Organize your project folders logically to match your alias mappings.

real world example

Let’s see Next js import alias in action with a real example. Imagine you have a NextJS project with these folders:

project/
  components/
    Header.js
  pages/
    index.js
  styles/
    main.css
  utils/
    helpers.js

With Next js import alias set up. you can import modules like this:

// Importing components/Header.js using a Next.js **import alias**
import Header from '@components/Header';

// Importing styles/main.css using a Next.js **import alias**
import styles from '@styles/main.css';

// Importing utils/helpers.js using a Next.js **import alias**
import { someUtility } from '@utils/helpers';

conslusion

In this blog we learned how to use Next js import alias to simplify module imports in NextJS projects. By using NextJS import alias you can make your code cleaner, work more efficiently and collaborate better with your team.

Give a try in your projects today and see the difference for yourself. Start simplifying your module imports.