🔗 Import, Alias, Require, and Use in Elixir

When we start learning Elixir, we quickly encounter different ways of working with modules: alias, import, require, and use. At first, they might seem similar or interchangeable, but each has a specific purpose, and understanding their differences is fundamental to writing clean and efficient Elixir code.

Modules are the basic unit of organization in Elixir. All the code we write is grouped into modules, and the way we connect and use them determines the readability and maintainability of our applications. However, many developers (even experienced ones) often confuse when to use each directive or end up using them redundantly or incorrectly. In this article, we'll demystify these four fundamental directives:

• alias: Tired of writing long module names? I'll show you how to create shortcuts.
• import: You'll learn how to bring functions into your current context for more concise code.
• require: You'll discover why it's necessary for working with macros.
• use: We'll explore this powerful directive that extends the functionality of your modules.

For each directive, I'll explain its purpose, syntax, and ideal use cases with practical examples. By the end of this post, you'll clearly understand not only how to use each one correctly but also when to choose one over another to build more elegant and maintainable code. Ready to master one of the most fundamental but often misunderstood parts of Elixir? Let's get started.