Node.js: SyntaxError: Cannot use import statement outside a module

Question

I am getting this error SyntaxError: Cannot use import statement outside a module when trying to import from another javascript file. This is the first time I'm trying something like this. The main file is main.js and the module file is mod.js.

main.js:

import * as myModule from "mod";
myModule.func();

mod.js:

export function func(){
    console.log("Hello World");
}

How can I fix this? Thanks

Does this answer your question? [SyntaxError: Cannot use import statement outside a module](https://stackoverflow.com/questions/58384179/syntaxerror-cannot-use-import-statement-outside-a-module) — blex, Jun 20 '20 at 17:00

Achraf Ghellach · Accepted Answer · 2023-03-07T23:09:28.667

157

In order to use the import syntax (ESModules), you need to add the following to your package.json at the top level:

{
    // ...
    "type": "module",
}

If you are using a version of Node earlier than 13, you additionally need to use the --experimental-modules flag when you run the program:

node --experimental-modules program.js

edited Mar 07 '23 at 23:09

answered Jun 20 '20 at 17:02

Achraf Ghellach

1,706
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2

**Note - Add a comma at the end of codpiece provided** – Eklavya Chandra Mar 10 '22 at 09:13
12

not working for me – Ryan Jul 01 '22 at 20:05
https://stackoverflow.com/a/71757466/470749 was helpful. – Ryan Jul 08 '22 at 00:04
1

Actually, for NodeJS to interpret a script as a module, you only need to have a `package.json` file with just `{ "type": "module" }` into the closest ancestor directory, including the same directory as your script. – aercolino Jan 18 '23 at 09:45
@EklavyaChandra are you sure you meant codpiece? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Codpiece – mikemaccana Mar 20 '23 at 20:02
1

@mikemaccana I think I mean to say code, autocorrect maybe ☕ – Eklavya Chandra Mar 22 '23 at 04:33

score 30 · Answer 2 · answered Jun 20 '20 at 17:07

30

Use commonjs syntax instead of es module syntax:

module.exports.func = function (){
    console.log("Hello World");
}

and

const myMod = require("./mod")
myMod.func()

Otherwise, if you want to use es modules you have to do as the answer by Achraf Ghellach suggests

answered Jun 20 '20 at 17:07

gautam1168

641
7
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Assuming `./mod` is a file named `mod.js` containing part 1 of your answer, I still get `ReferenceError: module is not defined` – lacostenycoder Feb 22 '23 at 18:02
Assuming you have nodejs 16 or higher it should work. Are you maybe using the keyword `module` during require as a variable? Check this screenshot: https://pasteboard.co/D41OnBGMT81z.png – gautam1168 Feb 23 '23 at 13:23
unfortunately I'm using pretty old version... 12 :( – lacostenycoder Feb 23 '23 at 16:45
I don't know if this will help on that version, but you may try after adding the extension: `var mymod = require("./mod.js")`. This require style is pretty old so I would have expected it to work on node 12 as well. – gautam1168 Feb 24 '23 at 03:44

kob003 · Answer 3 · 2023-07-26T07:49:17.757

6

For browser(front end): add type = "module" inside your script tag i.e

<script src="main.js" type="module"></script>

For nodejs: add "type": "module", in your package.json file

{
  "name": "",
  "version": "",
  "description": "",
  "main": "",
  "type": "module",
   ....
}

edited Jul 26 '23 at 07:49

answered May 16 '22 at 04:18

kob003

2,206
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score 4 · Answer 4 · answered Jun 10 '21 at 09:17

I recently encountered this problem. This solution is similar to the top rated answer but with some ways I found worked for me.

In the same directory as your modules create a package.json file and add "type":"module". Then use import {func} from "./myscript.js";. The import style works when run using node.

score 1 · Answer 5 · answered Apr 19 '21 at 21:35

1

In addition to the answers above, note by default(if the "type" is omitted) the "type" is "commonjs". So, you have explicitly specify the type when it's "module". You cannot use an import statement outside a module.

answered Apr 19 '21 at 21:35

Lekia

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score 1 · Answer 6 · answered Apr 07 '22 at 21:56

If you are in the browser (instead of a Node environment), make sure you specify the type="module" attribute in your script tag. If you want to use Babel, then it must be type="text/babel" data-plugins="transform-es2015-modules-umd" data-type="module".

score 0 · Answer 7 · answered Feb 10 '22 at 14:50

I had this issue trying to run mocha tests with typescript. This isn't directly related to the answer but may help some.

This article is quite interesting. He's using a trick involving cross-env, that allows him to run tests as commonjs module type. That worked for me.

// package.json
{
  ...
  "scripts": {
    "test": "cross-env TS_NODE_COMPILER_OPTIONS='{ \"module\": \"commonjs\" }' mocha -r ts-node/register -r src/**/*.spec.ts"
  }
}

score 0 · Answer 8 · answered Apr 08 '22 at 21:12

0

I got the same issue but in another module (python-shell). I replaced the code as follows:

import {PythonShell} from 'python-shell'; (original code)
let {PythonShell} = require('python-shell')

That solved the issue.

answered Apr 08 '22 at 21:12

Snowcat

470
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Node.js: SyntaxError: Cannot use import statement outside a module

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