Why Am I Getting a 'SyntaxError: Unexpected token import' in Node.js?

Node.js: Understanding the Unexpected Token Import Error

In Node.js, encountering the error "SyntaxError: Unexpected token import" typically indicates that you're attempting to use the import syntax in an unsupported environment.

The import syntax is a feature of ES6 (ECMAScript 2015) that allows you to import modules. However, in Node.js, support for ES6 module imports has been gradually introduced with the release of different versions.

Support for ES6 Modules in Node.js Versions

• Node 13 : Importing modules via import is stable and fully supported. You can use .mjs files or set "type": "module" in the package.json file.
• Node 12: Similar to Node 13, you can import modules with .mjs files or using "type": "module" in package.json. However, you need to run Node with the --experimental-modules flag.
• Node 9: In Node 9, module imports are still experimental and require the use of .mjs files and the --experimental-modules flag.

Before Node 13, ES6 Module Imports Were Not Supported

In Node.js versions prior to 13, the import syntax was not natively supported. Therefore, if you encounter this error in earlier versions, it's because you're attempting to use a JavaScript construct that is not supported by the runtime environment.

Fallback to Classic Require Statements

To resolve this issue, you need to revert to using the classical require statement for importing modules in Node.js versions that do not support import. For example:

const express = require("express");

Using Babel for ES6/7 Features

If you wish to use ES6/7 features in Node.js, you can compile your code using Babel. Babel is a JavaScript transpiler that converts newer JavaScript syntax into code that is compatible with older environments. Here's an example of compiling a server with Babel:

npm install --save-dev babel-cli babel-preset-env
npx babel-node script.js

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