Exports

Overview

The export system in Nest Dart provides fine-grained control over which services are accessible outside a module. Only exported services can be used by other modules, creating clear boundaries and encapsulation.

Exports are a key feature that distinguishes Nest Dart from plain GetIt. They enforce proper architectural boundaries and prevent unintended dependencies.

Export Basics

Modules define exports through the exports property:

abstract class Module {
  /// List of provider types that this module exports to other modules
  List<Type> get exports => [];
}

Simple Export Example

class DatabaseModule extends Module {
  @override
  Future<void> providers(Locator locator) async {
    // Register multiple services
    locator.registerLazySingleton<DatabaseConnection>(
      () => DatabaseConnection(),
    );
    
    locator.registerLazySingleton<DatabaseService>(
      () => DatabaseService(locator<DatabaseConnection>()),
    );
    
    locator.registerLazySingleton<QueryBuilder>(
      () => QueryBuilder(),
    );
  }
  
  // Only export DatabaseService - keep others internal
  @override
  List<Type> get exports => [DatabaseService];
}

Services not in the exports list cannot be accessed by other modules, even if those modules import your module.

Import/Export Relationship

For a module to use an exported service, it must import the providing module:

class UserModule extends Module {
  // Import DatabaseModule to access its exports
  @override
  List<Module> get imports => [DatabaseModule()];
  
  @override
  Future<void> providers(Locator locator) async {
    locator.registerLazySingleton<UserRepository>(
      () => UserRepository(
        // Can access DatabaseService (it's exported)
        database: locator<DatabaseService>(),
        
        // Cannot access DatabaseConnection (not exported)
        // connection: locator<DatabaseConnection>(), // ❌ Throws exception!
      ),
    );
  }
}

Access Control Rules

From module.dart:49-75, the canAccess method enforces these rules:

bool canAccess(Type requestingModule, Type serviceType) {
  // Global services are always accessible
  if (_globalServices.contains(serviceType)) {
    return true;
  }

  // Find the module that provides this service
  final providerModule = _serviceToModule[serviceType];
  if (providerModule == null) {
    return false;
  }

  // If the requesting module is the same as the provider, allow access
  if (requestingModule == providerModule) {
    return true;
  }

  // Check if the requesting module imports the provider module
  final imports = _moduleImports[requestingModule] ?? <Type>{};
  if (!imports.contains(providerModule)) {
    return false;
  }

  // Check if the provider module exports this service
  final exports = _moduleExports[providerModule] ?? <Type>{};
  return exports.contains(serviceType);
}

A module can access a service if:

It’s a global service (registered by root module)
It’s the service’s provider (same module)
Import + Export: The module imports the provider module AND the provider exports the service

ServiceNotExportedException

When access control is violated, a ServiceNotExportedException is thrown:

class ServiceNotExportedException implements Exception {
  final Type serviceType;
  final Type fromModule;
  final Type toModule;

  @override
  String toString() {
    return 'ServiceNotExportedException: Service $serviceType is not exported '
           'by module $fromModule and cannot be accessed by module $toModule';
  }
}

Example Error

class AuthModule extends Module {
  @override
  List<Module> get imports => [CryptoModule()];
  
  @override
  Future<void> providers(Locator locator) async {
    try {
      // CryptoModule doesn't export PrivateKeyService
      final keyService = locator<PrivateKeyService>();
    } catch (e) {
      // ServiceNotExportedException: Service PrivateKeyService is not exported
      // by module CryptoModule and cannot be accessed by module AuthModule
      print(e);
    }
  }
}

Export Patterns

Minimal Exports (Recommended)

Only export what’s necessary:

class PaymentModule extends Module {
  @override
  Future<void> providers(Locator locator) async {
    // Internal implementation details
    locator.registerLazySingleton<StripeClient>(
      () => StripeClient(),
    );
    locator.registerLazySingleton<PayPalClient>(
      () => PayPalClient(),
    );
    locator.registerLazySingleton<PaymentValidator>(
      () => PaymentValidator(),
    );
    
    // Public API
    locator.registerLazySingleton<PaymentService>(
      () => PaymentService(
        stripe: locator<StripeClient>(),
        paypal: locator<PayPalClient>(),
        validator: locator<PaymentValidator>(),
      ),
    );
  }
  
  // Only export the facade
  @override
  List<Type> get exports => [PaymentService];
}

Export high-level facades or services while keeping implementation details internal. This provides a clean API and allows internal refactoring without breaking consumers.

Multiple Exports

Export multiple related services:

class DataModule extends Module {
  @override
  Future<void> providers(Locator locator) async {
    locator.registerLazySingleton<UserRepository>(
      () => UserRepositoryImpl(),
    );
    locator.registerLazySingleton<ProductRepository>(
      () => ProductRepositoryImpl(),
    );
    locator.registerLazySingleton<OrderRepository>(
      () => OrderRepositoryImpl(),
    );
  }
  
  // Export all repositories
  @override
  List<Type> get exports => [
    UserRepository,
    ProductRepository,
    OrderRepository,
  ];
}

Re-exporting from Imported Modules

A module can export services from its imports:

class CoreModule extends Module {
  @override
  List<Module> get imports => [
    LoggerModule(),
    ConfigModule(),
    CacheModule(),
  ];
  
  @override
  Future<void> providers(Locator locator) async {
    // CoreModule's own services
    locator.registerLazySingleton<CoreService>(
      () => CoreService(),
    );
  }
  
  // Re-export services from imported modules
  @override
  List<Type> get exports => [
    CoreService,
    LoggerService,  // from LoggerModule
    ConfigService,  // from ConfigModule
    CacheService,   // from CacheModule
  ];
}

Re-exporting is useful for creating shared or core modules that bundle commonly used services.

Global Services

Services registered by the root module (directly registered with ApplicationContainer) are automatically made global: From container.dart:106-120:

void _autoExportFromRootModule(Module rootModule) {
  final visitedModules = <Type>{};

  // Make the root module's own exported services globally available
  for (final exportType in rootModule.exports) {
    _context.markAsGlobal(exportType);
  }

  // Make services from directly imported modules globally available
  for (final importedModule in rootModule.imports) {
    _collectDirectExports(importedModule, visitedModules);
  }
}

Example

class AppModule extends Module {
  @override
  List<Module> get imports => [
    CoreModule(),
    DatabaseModule(),
  ];
  
  @override
  List<Type> get exports => [
    // These become globally accessible
    CoreService,
    LoggerService,
  ];
}

// Register with container
final container = ApplicationContainer();
await container.registerModule(AppModule());

// Any module can now access CoreService and LoggerService
// without importing AppModule

Encapsulation Benefits

Before Exports (Plain GetIt)

// Any service can access any other service
final getIt = GetIt.instance;

getIt.registerLazySingleton(() => DatabaseConnection());
getIt.registerLazySingleton(() => InternalCache());
getIt.registerLazySingleton(() => DebugLogger());

// Anywhere in the app:
final connection = getIt<DatabaseConnection>(); // Uncontrolled access
final cache = getIt<InternalCache>();           // No boundaries

With Exports (Nest Dart)

// Clear boundaries and controlled access
class DatabaseModule extends Module {
  @override
  Future<void> providers(Locator locator) async {
    locator.registerLazySingleton<DatabaseConnection>(
      () => DatabaseConnection(),
    );
    locator.registerLazySingleton<InternalCache>(
      () => InternalCache(),
    );
    locator.registerLazySingleton<DatabaseService>(
      () => DatabaseService(
        connection: locator<DatabaseConnection>(),
        cache: locator<InternalCache>(),
      ),
    );
  }
  
  // Only expose the public API
  @override
  List<Type> get exports => [DatabaseService];
}

// Other modules can only access DatabaseService
// DatabaseConnection and InternalCache are protected

Debugging Export Issues

Check available services for a module:

final container = ApplicationContainer();
await container.registerModule(AppModule());

// Get all available services
final available = container.getAvailableServices();
print('Available services: $available');

// Check specific service
if (container.isRegistered<UserService>()) {
  print('UserService is accessible');
} else {
  print('UserService is not accessible - check exports');
}

From module.dart:77-99, you can inspect available services:

Set<Type> getAvailableServices(Type moduleType) {
  final available = <Type>{};

  // Add global services
  available.addAll(_globalServices);

  // Add services from imported modules that are exported
  final imports = _moduleImports[moduleType] ?? <Type>{};
  for (final importedModule in imports) {
    final exports = _moduleExports[importedModule] ?? <Type>{};
    available.addAll(exports);
  }

  // Add services from this module itself
  for (final entry in _serviceToModule.entries) {
    if (entry.value == moduleType) {
      available.add(entry.key);
    }
  }

  return available;
}

Best Practices

Facade Pattern: Export a single service that provides a clean interface to complex internal implementations.

Version Your Exports: When changing exports, consider the impact on consuming modules. Removing an export is a breaking change.

Document Exports: Add comments explaining why certain services are or aren’t exported.

class ApiModule extends Module {
  @override
  Future<void> providers(Locator locator) async {
    // Internal - handles raw HTTP
    locator.registerLazySingleton<HttpClient>(
      () => HttpClient(),
    );
    
    // Internal - manages auth tokens
    locator.registerLazySingleton<TokenManager>(
      () => TokenManager(),
    );
    
    // Public API - high-level client
    locator.registerLazySingleton<ApiClient>(
      () => ApiClient(
        http: locator<HttpClient>(),
        tokens: locator<TokenManager>(),
      ),
    );
  }
  
  @override
  List<Type> get exports => [
    // Export only the high-level client
    // HttpClient and TokenManager are implementation details
    ApiClient,
  ];
}

Exporting too many services defeats the purpose of encapsulation. Only export what’s truly needed by consumers.

Next Steps

Learn about Modules to understand module organization
Explore Dependency Injection to see how access control is enforced
Understand Providers for different registration strategies
Implement Lifecycle Hooks to initialize exported services

Get Started

Core Concepts

Platform Integration

Advanced Topics

Examples

Overview

Export Basics

Simple Export Example

Import/Export Relationship

Access Control Rules

ServiceNotExportedException

Example Error

Export Patterns

Minimal Exports (Recommended)

Multiple Exports

Re-exporting from Imported Modules

Global Services

Example

Encapsulation Benefits

Before Exports (Plain GetIt)

With Exports (Nest Dart)

Debugging Export Issues

Best Practices

Next Steps

Build docs developers (and LLMs) love

Get Started

Core Concepts

Platform Integration

Advanced Topics

Examples

Documentation Index

​Overview

​Export Basics

​Simple Export Example

​Import/Export Relationship

​Access Control Rules

​ServiceNotExportedException

​Example Error

​Export Patterns

​Minimal Exports (Recommended)

​Multiple Exports

​Re-exporting from Imported Modules

​Global Services

​Example

​Encapsulation Benefits

​Before Exports (Plain GetIt)

​With Exports (Nest Dart)

​Debugging Export Issues

​Best Practices

​Next Steps

Build docs developers (and LLMs) love

Overview

Export Basics

Simple Export Example

Import/Export Relationship

Access Control Rules

ServiceNotExportedException

Example Error

Export Patterns

Minimal Exports (Recommended)

Multiple Exports

Re-exporting from Imported Modules

Global Services

Example

Encapsulation Benefits

Before Exports (Plain GetIt)

With Exports (Nest Dart)

Debugging Export Issues

Best Practices

Next Steps