Javascript ES6 export const vs export let

In ES6, imports are live read-only views on exported-values. As a result, when you do import a from "somemodule";, you cannot assign to a no matter how you declare a in the module.

However, since imported variables are live views, they do change according to the "raw" exported variable in exports. Consider the following code (borrowed from the reference article below):

//------ lib.js ------
export let counter = 3;
export function incCounter() {
    counter++;
}

//------ main1.js ------
import { counter, incCounter } from './lib';

// The imported value `counter` is live
console.log(counter); // 3
incCounter();
console.log(counter); // 4

// The imported value can’t be changed
counter++; // TypeError

As you can see, the difference really lies in lib.js, not main1.js.

---

To summarize:

• You cannot assign to import-ed variables, no matter how you declare the corresponding variables in the module.
• The traditional let-vs-const semantics applies to the declared variable in the module.
  • If the variable is declared const, it cannot be reassigned or rebound in anywhere.
  • If the variable is declared let, it can only be reassigned in the module (but not the user). If it is changed, the import-ed variable changes accordingly.

Reference: http://exploringjs.com/es6/ch_modules.html#leanpub-auto-in-es6-imports-are-live-read-only-views-on-exported-values

I think that once you've imported it, the behaviour is the same (in the place your variable will be used outside source file).

The only difference would be if you try to reassign it before the end of this very file.