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Why Am I Getting a 'SyntaxError: Cannot use import statement outside a module' Error in My Node.js Project?

Mary-Kate Olsen
Mary-Kate OlsenOriginal
2024-12-12 19:43:08325browse

Why Am I Getting a

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

Problem:

When attempting to use the latest Babel in an ApolloServer project, a "SyntaxError: Cannot use import statement outside a module" error occurs. This issue manifests after switching from Babel 6 to Babel 7.

Cause:

Node.js version 13.2.0 or higher is required to use import statements in modules. Earlier versions of Node.js may not recognize import statements and throw the above error.

Solution:

Option 1: Specify Module Type in Package.json

  • Ensure you have the latest Node.js version installed (13.2.0 ).
  • Add a "type": "module" field to the nearest parent package.json file. This instructs Node.js to interpret all .js and .mjs files as ES modules.
// package.json
{
  "type": "module"
}

Option 2: Explicitly Use .mjs Extension

  • Instead of using the .js extension for your module files, explicitly name them with the .mjs extension. Node.js will automatically recognize these files as ES modules.

Additional Tips:

  • Double-check your Babel configuration to ensure it's up-to-date and supports ES modules.
  • Review the documentation for the package that is causing the issue to see if it has specific requirements or recommendations for using import statements in Node.js projects.

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