Import and Export Core Module and Shared Module

Question

I'm having a difficulty in determining on what should i "import" and "export" in my core modules and shared modules. For instance, in my shared module, i imported and exported CommonModule while only exported the ReactiveFormsModule. In my core module, i imported modules and exported components only. I'm wondering what should i "import" and "export" in core and shared module? I've read other examples here in stackoverflow and the docs and I'm still confuse. Please check my structure/codes below. Thanks.

Shared Module

import { NgModule } from '@angular/core';
import { CommonModule } from '@angular/common';
import { ReactiveFormsModule } from '@angular/forms';
import { ToggleFullscreenDirective } from './directives/toggle-fullscreen.directive';
import { ViewComponent } from './view/view.component';
import { ErrorsComponent } from './reusable-error-page/errors.component';

@NgModule({
  exports: [
    ToggleFullscreenDirective,
    ViewComponent,
    ErrorsComponent,
    CommonModule,
    ReactiveFormsModule
  ],
  imports: [
    CommonModule
  ],
  declarations: [
    ToggleFullscreenDirective,
    ViewComponent,
    ErrorsComponent
  ]
})
export class SharedModule { }

Core Module

import { NgModule } from '@angular/core';
import { BrowserAnimationsModule } from '@angular/platform-browser/animations';
import { CommonModule } from '@angular/common';
import { HttpRequestInterceptor } from './http-request.interceptor';
import { HTTP_INTERCEPTORS } from '@angular/common/http';
import { HttpClientModule } from '@angular/common/http';
import { SidebarComponent } from './sidebar/sidebar.component';
import { FooterComponent } from './footer/footer.component';
import { NavbarComponent } from './navbar/navbar.component';
import { RouterModule } from '@angular/router';
import { NgbModule } from '@ng-bootstrap/ng-bootstrap';
import { AuthModule } from '@app/auth/auth.module';
import { NgSelectModule } from '@ng-select/ng-select';
import { ReactiveFormsModule } from '@angular/forms';
import { ContentLayoutComponent } from '../layouts/content/content-layout.component';
import { FullLayoutComponent } from '../layouts/full/full-layout.component';
import { PageNotFoundComponent } from '../page-not-found/page-not-found.component';
import { ErrorPageComponent } from '../error-page/error-page.component';

// NGXS
import { NgxsModule } from '@ngxs/store';
import { NgxsReduxDevtoolsPluginModule } from '@ngxs/devtools-plugin';
import { NgxsLoggerPluginModule } from '@ngxs/logger-plugin';
import { NgxsStoragePluginModule } from '@ngxs/storage-plugin';
import { NgxsRouterPluginModule } from '@ngxs/router-plugin';
import { NGXS_PLUGINS } from '@ngxs/store';
import { logoutPlugin } from '@app/auth/plugins/logout.plugin';

@NgModule({
  declarations: [
    NavbarComponent,
    SidebarComponent,
    FooterComponent,
    FullLayoutComponent,
    ContentLayoutComponent,
    PageNotFoundComponent,
    ErrorPageComponent
  ],

  imports: [
    AuthModule,
    BrowserAnimationsModule,
    HttpClientModule,
    CommonModule,
    ReactiveFormsModule,
    NgSelectModule,
    RouterModule,
    NgbModule,
    NgxsReduxDevtoolsPluginModule.forRoot(),
    NgxsLoggerPluginModule.forRoot(),
    NgxsModule.forRoot(),
    NgxsStoragePluginModule.forRoot(),
    NgxsRouterPluginModule.forRoot()
  ],

  exports: [
    NavbarComponent,
    SidebarComponent,
    FooterComponent,
    FullLayoutComponent,
    ContentLayoutComponent,
    PageNotFoundComponent,
    ErrorPageComponent
  ],

  providers: [
    { provide: HTTP_INTERCEPTORS, useClass: HttpRequestInterceptor, multi: true },
    {
      provide: NGXS_PLUGINS,
      useValue: logoutPlugin,
      multi: true
    }
  ]

})
export class CoreModule { }

App Module

import { NgModule } from '@angular/core';
import { AppRoutingModule } from './app-routing.module';
import { AppComponent } from './app.component';
import { CoreModule } from './core/core.module';
import { ServiceWorkerModule } from '@angular/service-worker';
import { environment } from '@env/environment';

@NgModule({
  declarations: [
    AppComponent
  ],
  imports: [
    AppRoutingModule,
    CoreModule,
    ServiceWorkerModule.register('ngsw-worker.js', { enabled: environment.production })
  ],
  bootstrap: [AppComponent]
})
export class AppModule { }

Answer 1

There is a specific purpose of each module (Shared, Core etc..).

So the question is what package should I import in Shared Module and what in the Core Module.

So suppose of an application which has the following modules:

1. App Module
2. Core Module
3. Shared Module
4. User Module (This is called feature module)
5. Admin Module (This is called feature module)

Let's describe it:

1. App Module

In this module, we have to import the modules/packages which we will use throughout our system. Like: CommonModule, FormsModule, HttpClientModule etc. And we don't need to export these modules as it will be available in whole application once it is imported in App Module.

2. Core Module

In this module, we have to make components which will be used in almost every page of the system. Like: HeaderComponent, FooterCompoennt, AuthGaurds etc. And these components should be exported so that it will be available in other modules.

3. Shared Module

In this module, we have to make the Services, Components, Pipes, and Directives which will be used in more than one component. Like: AlertDialogBox, HTTPService, etc.

4. User Module

This is a featured module. It will have the components specific to a User Module. Here we can import Shared Module so that we can use AlertDialogBox and all.

5. Admin Module

This is a featured module. It will have the components specific to a User Module. Here we can import Shared Module so that we can use AlertDialogBox and all.