Getting Unexpected Token Export

I am trying to run some ES6 code in my project but I am getting an unexpected token export error.

export class MyClass {
  constructor() {
    console.log("es6");
  }
}

Solution 1:

You are using ES6 Module syntax.

This means your environment (e.g. node.js) must support ES6 Module syntax.

NodeJS uses CommonJS Module syntax (module.exports) not ES6 module syntax (export keyword).

Solution:

• Use babel npm package to transpile your ES6 to a commonjs target

or

• Refactor with CommonJS syntax.

Examples of CommonJS syntax are (from flaviocopes.com/commonjs/):

• exports.uppercase = str => str.toUpperCase()
• exports.a = 1

Solution 2:

In case you get this error, it might also be related to how you included the JavaScript file into your html page. When loading modules, you have to explicitly declare those files as such. Here's an example:

//module.js:
function foo(){
   return "foo";
}

var bar = "bar";

export { foo, bar };

When you include the script like this:

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

You will get the error:

Uncaught SyntaxError: Unexpected token export

You need to include the file with a type attribute set to "module":

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

then it should work as expected and you are ready to import your module in another module:

import { foo, bar } from  "./module.js";

console.log( foo() );
console.log( bar );

Solution 3:

My two cents

Export

ES6

myClass.js

export class MyClass1 {
}
export class MyClass2 {
}

other.js

import { MyClass1, MyClass2 } from './myClass';

CommonJS Alternative

myClass.js

class MyClass1 {
}
class MyClass2 {
}
module.exports = { MyClass1, MyClass2 }
// or
// exports = { MyClass1, MyClass2 };

other.js

const { MyClass1, MyClass2 } = require('./myClass');

Export Default

ES6

myClass.js

export default class MyClass {
}

other.js

import MyClass from './myClass';

CommonJS Alternative

myClass.js

module.exports = class MyClass1 {
}

other.js

const MyClass = require('./myClass');

Hope this helps

Solution 4:

I fixed this by making an entry point file like.

// index.js
require = require('esm')(module)
module.exports = require('./app.js')

and any file I imported inside app.js and beyond worked with imports/exports now you just run it like node index.js

Note: if app.js uses export default, this becomes require('./app.js').default when using the entry point file.