| name | expo-module |
| description | Guide for creating and writing Expo native modules and views using the Expo Modules API (Swift, Kotlin, TypeScript). Covers module definition DSL, native views, shared objects, config plugins, lifecycle hooks, autolinking, and type system. Use when building or modifying native modules... |
| risk | unknown |
| source | https://github.com/expo/skills/tree/main/plugins/expo/skills/expo-module |
| source_repo | expo/skills |
| source_type | official |
| date_added | 2026-07-01T00:00:00.000Z |
| license | MIT |
| license_source | https://github.com/expo/skills/blob/main/LICENSE |
Writing Expo Modules
Complete reference for building native modules and views using the Expo Modules API. Covers Swift (iOS), Kotlin (Android), and TypeScript.
When to Use
- Creating a new Expo native module or native view
- Adding native functionality (camera, sensors, system APIs) to an Expo app
- Wrapping platform SDKs for React Native consumption
- Building config plugins that modify native project files
- Adding Android, Apple, or web support to an existing Expo module
- Editing
expo-module.config.json, config plugins, or lifecycle hooks
References
Consult these resources as needed:
references/
create-expo-module.md Scaffolding and add-platform-support workflow, defaults, and quirks
native-module.md Module definition DSL: Name, Function, AsyncFunction, Property, Constant, Events, type system, shared objects
native-view.md Native view components: View, Prop, EventDispatcher, view lifecycle, ref-based functions
lifecycle.md Lifecycle hooks: module, iOS app/AppDelegate, Android activity/application listeners
config-plugin.md Config plugins: modifying Info.plist, AndroidManifest.xml, reading values in native code
module-config.md expo-module.config.json fields, file placement, and autolinking behavior
Quick Start
Prefer create-expo-module over manually creating native module files and directories. In practice, the best path is usually to create the scaffold first and then build on top of it. The scaffold sets up the expected layout, expo-module.config.json, podspec or Gradle files, TypeScript bindings, and the standalone example app flow.
If an existing Expo module only needs another platform, use create-expo-module add-platform-support instead of manually copying native directories.
See references/create-expo-module.md before scaffolding or extending a module. It covers:
- local vs standalone modules
--platform, --features, --barrel, --package-manager, and non-interactive mode
expo.autolinking.nativeModulesDir
add-platform-support behavior and quirks
Recommended Workflow
- Choose the scaffold type first: