How to Properly Add External JavaScript in Next.js

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Understanding the Problem

Why Your Current Approach Isn't Working

When you imported your JavaScript file into your application, you did create a side effect that initialized the script but didn’t make the functions accessible in the way you intended. This is due to how module imports work in JavaScript:

Your import statement initializes the module without exposing its functions by default.

Recommended Approach

To avoid the confusion that usually comes with loading external scripts, it's best practice to create modules without side effects. This means you should export any functions you want to use in other parts of your application. Here’s how you can do it:

Step 1: Modify your External Script

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Step 2: Import the Function Where Needed

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Now you can use the hello function in your component like this:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Conclusion