# Import npm libraries

This topic explains how to incorporate external React component libraries from npm into your project.
You'll learn how to install and import UI components from popular React libraries.

## Install the library

### Install the library locally

Use npm to install the external library.
For example, to install React Icons, use the following command:

```bash
npm install react-icons
```

### Install the library in Reunite

If you are working in Reunite, you can install the library by adding it to the `package.json` file.

```json
{
  // ...
  "dependencies": {
    // existing dependencies
    "react-icons": "^4.11.0"
  }
}
```

Follow the steps in [Run a specific product version in Reunite](/docs/realm/get-started/upgrade-realm-version#run-a-specific-product-version-in-reunite)
to create a `package.json` file if you don't have one already.

## Configure private registries

You might need to install libraries from private npm registries (such as Artifactory, AWS CodeArtifact, or GitHub Packages).
Configure registry access using either `.npmrc` or `bunfig.toml` files.

### Use `.npmrc`

Create a `.npmrc` file in your project root:

```text
@myorg:registry=https://registry.myorg.com/
//registry.myorg.com/:_authToken=${NPM_TOKEN}
```

### Use `bunfig.toml` (recommended)

For enhanced flexibility, create a `bunfig.toml` file in your project root:

```toml
[install.scopes]
# Using environment variables for credentials
"@myorg" = { token = "$NPM_TOKEN", url = "https://registry.myorg.com/" }

# Alternative with username/password
"@mycompany" = {
  username = "$NPM_USERNAME",
  password = "$NPM_PASSWORD",
  url = "https://registry.mycompany.com/"
}
```

### Secure credential management

**Protect sensitive information**

Never commit registry credentials directly to your repository.
Always use environment variables for sensitive information like tokens, usernames, and passwords.

Store your registry credentials as environment variables:

- For local development, add them to your `.env` file (do not commit secrets to Git):

  ```text
  NPM_TOKEN=your-private-token-here
  NPM_USERNAME=your-username
  NPM_PASSWORD=your-password
  ```
- For Reunite projects, add them through the **Settings** > **Environment variables** page and mark them as secrets.
  Reunite supports environment variable names that start with `NPM_` for private package registries.

For more information about managing environment variables, see **[Use environment variables](/docs/realm/reunite/project/env-variables)**.

## Import and use components

After installation, you can import components directly in your React files, as in the following example:

```tsx
import * as React from 'react';
import { FaHeart, FaThumbsUp } from 'react-icons/fa';

export function MyComponent() {
  return (
    <div>
      <FaHeart color="red" size={24} />
      <FaThumbsUp color="blue" size={24} />
    </div>
  );
}
```

## Usage with Markdoc

For more information about how to register and use custom Markdoc tags, see [Build markdoc tags](/docs/realm/customization/build-markdoc-tags).

To use external components within Markdoc, you'll need to register them in your schema, as in the following example:

```ts
// @theme/markdoc/schema.ts
import type { MarkdocTagSchema } from '@redocly/theme/markdoc/tags/types';

export const tags: Record<string, MarkdocTagSchema> = {
  // ... existing tags ...
  reactIcon: {
    render: 'ReactIcon',
    attributes: {
      name: {
        type: 'string',
        required: true,
      },
      size: {
        type: 'number',
        default: 24,
      },
      color: {
        type: 'string',
        default: 'currentColor',
      },
    },
  },
};
```

You also need to export your components as in the following example:

```tsx
import * as React from 'react';
import { FaHeart, FaThumbsUp } from 'react-icons/fa';

export function ReactIcon({ name, size = 24, color = 'currentColor' }) {
  const icons = {
    heart: FaHeart,
    thumbsUp: FaThumbsUp,
  };

  const IconComponent = icons[name];
  return <IconComponent size={size} color={color} />;
}
```

You can use the icon tag in your Markdoc files, as in the following example:

```markdoc
{% reactIcon name="heart" color="red" /%}
{% reactIcon name="thumbsUp" color="blue" size=32 /%}
```

## Resources

- **[Use environment variables](/docs/realm/reunite/project/env-variables)** - Configure secure credentials for private registry access using environment variables
- **[Build Markdoc tags](/docs/realm/customization/build-markdoc-tags)** - Create reusable Markdoc tags using imported npm libraries for enhanced functionality
- **[Icon tag](/docs/realm/content/markdoc-tags/icon)** - Use Redocly's built-in icon system and learn patterns for extending it with external icon libraries
- **[Extend with code](/docs/realm/customization)** - Discover customizable components and customization options for your project