Node.js is known as a cross-platform runtime environment and an open-source for JavaScript. It is a famous tool for every project kind! The core of Google Chrome and the V8 JavaScript engine is run outside of the browser by Node.js, so Node.js can be incredibly performant. However, Unexpected token import SyntaxError in Node.js is a common error that shows up in many ways. What is the cause of it and how to fix it? Read this article to find the best answer.

How Does The Error Unexpected token import SyntaxError in Node.js Happen?

While using es6 modules import or export statements in Node.js, you easily get the following error:

Unexpected token import SyntaxError 

How To Solve The Error Unexpected token import SyntaxError in Node.js?

Method 1: Utilize the module.exports, and the commonjs modules require() function

Instead of es6 modules, you can utilize the module.exports, and the commonjs modules require() function to fix the error “Unexpected token import SyntaxError” in Node.js. Take a look at the following example to understand more about this solution:

const express = require("express");

const app = express();

app.get("/hello", (req,res)=>{ 
   res.send("hello") 
})

app.listen(3000, ()=> console.log("server is running"));

After doing that, your error will be completely resolved.

Method 2: Include a –experimental-modules flag to the node command

If you want to use the es6 modules, a --experimental-modules flag must be added to the node command and "type":"module" must be set to the file of package.json as shown below:

node --experimental-modules app.js

You can use the command mentioned above for node versions 8, 9, 10, 11, 12.

With node version >=13, you can set a "type":"module" to the package.json file to use es6 modules. The --experimental-modules flag is not required in node command.

{ 
  "name": "my-app", 
  "version": "1.0.0", 
  "description": "", 
  "type": "module", 
  "scripts": { 
    "start": "node app.js" 
  } 
}

Alternatively, the .mjs extension can be used for Node 13+.

Method 3: Use esm

The most advanced ECMAScript module loader in the world is esm. It is recognized as the official standard format for packaging JavaScript code to reuse. There are many import and export lines used to define modules. Therefore, another method is that you can use esm to solve the problem “Unexpected token import SyntaxError” in Node.js. This package is small, but it enables you to use either import or require.

First, you have to run the following command to install esm in your program:

$ npm install --save esm

Then, let’s upgrade your Node Start Script to use esm:

node -r esm app.js

esm will work. It allows you to mix and match a file that uses require or module.exports while .mjs and --experimental-modules cannot.

These methods mentioned above are the best methods for the problem “Unexpected token import SyntaxError” in Node.js. They work effectively and make your program run well without any errors. So, let’s apply them to get your desired results.

Conclusion

Thank you for reading our blog post on fixing Unexpected token import SyntaxError in Node.js. We hope this post has been helping you a lot. If you have any further questions about this topic, please contact us by adding them to the comment section. We’re always glad to help you find the most suitable solutions for your problems.

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