Javascript Module error SyntaxError: Cannot use import statement outside a module

Question

I am trying to test simple export and importsample.

//file a.js
export const a = 2

//file b.js
import {a} from './a.js'
console.log(a);

But it show error

import {a} from './a.js'

^^^^^^

SyntaxError: Cannot use import statement outside a module

I use vscode to test this.

a.js and b.js is in the same folder.

I have no idea to this.

• floverdevel: How do you load b.js ? Is it from a web page in a browser? Is it running server-side in node.js?
• TTT: run in vscode node.js

Answer 1

If you are on browser try @karma Blackshaw 's answer . If your are using node add "type": "module" to your package.json . Or you can change extension of your .js files to .mjs and run with --experimental modules flag

a.mjs

//file a.mjs
export const a = 2

b.mjs:

import {a} from './a.mjs'
console.log(a);

and run using :

node --experimental-modules b.mjs

Read docs

Answer 2

I solved this issue by doing the following:

When using ES6 modules from browser use .js extension in your files and in script tag add type = "module"

• TTT: Is it possible to run javascript node.js in vscode? It still show same error. I try your way in Chrome, it's work!
• Karma Blackshaw: yes. You can open the command line in your current directory and type node index.js or whatever your filename is
• Karma Blackshaw: This will give you a head start