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|  Error: Cannot use import statement outside a module in Next.js: Causes and How to Fix

Error: Cannot use import statement outside a module in Next.js: Causes and How to Fix

February 10, 2025

Discover why "Cannot use import statement outside a module" occurs in Next.js and learn effective solutions to resolve this error in your projects.

What is Error: Cannot use import statement outside a module in Next.js

 

Explanation of the Error

 

  • The error message "Error: Cannot use import statement outside a module" indicates an issue with how ES6 module syntax is being used in your JavaScript files. This generally occurs when the JavaScript execution environment is not recognized as an ECMAScript module (ESM).
  •  

  • ESM is a standardized module format intended to enable inter-module dependency relationships. It provides the `import` and `export` syntax for different modules to interact.
  •  

  • This error often signifies that the script is being interpreted as a CommonJS module, which only natively supports `require` syntax. Thus, the `import` statement causes a syntax error outside ESM.

 

Implications of the Error

 

  • When this error is encountered, it prevents the execution of the JavaScript code, causing the application to fail at runtime or during server-side processing.
  •  

  • This error can halt application build pipelines, negatively impacting both development processes and CI/CD workflows.
  •  

  • The error affects the maintainability of your codebase, especially if a mix of import and require statements are used inconsistently, leading to a confusing and tangled code structure.

 

Example Situations Where the Error Might Occur

 

  • Using `import` in Node.js files without appropriate configuration. For instance:
    import express from 'express'; 
    const app = express(); 
    app.listen(3000);
    

    This code will throw the error if Node.js is not set up to treat these files as ESM.

  •  

  • When running a script directly with Node.js that uses `import`. Unless configured otherwise, Node.js assumes scripts are in CommonJS format, leading to errors when ESM syntax is encountered.

 

General Solutions (High-Level Overview)

 

  • Ensure the environment is properly configured to handle ES6 modules, usually by denoting JavaScript files with a `.mjs` extension or setting appropriate fields in `package.json`.
  •  

  • Understand and configure build tools like Babel or Webpack to handle ES6 modules when transforming code for deployment.
  •  

  • Maintain consistent module syntax (either all `import/export` or `require/module.exports`) throughout your codebase to avoid module confusion.

 

What Causes Error: Cannot use import statement outside a module in Next.js

 

Understanding "Cannot use import statement outside a module" Error in Next.js

 

  • ES Modules vs CommonJS: Next.js uses both ES Modules and CommonJS, and mixing these formats improperly can lead to this error. Node.js, the environment where Next.js primarily runs, traditionally uses CommonJS (`require` statements), but Next.js enables using ES Modules (`import` statements) in certain scenarios. When a file is not recognized as an ES Module by Node.js, attempting to use `import` results in the error.
  •  

  • File Execution Context: If a JavaScript file is not executed in a module context, Node.js defaults to treating it as a CommonJS module. Execution context can be unclear when a script is run directly on the server side, leading to confusion about which syntax (CommonJS or ES Modules) to use.
  •  

  • Misconfigured package.json: A common cause is having a `package.json` file lacking the `"type": "module"` attribute, which tells Node.js to treat `.js` files as ES Modules. Without this configuration, Node.js uses the CommonJS system by default, which doesn't recognize `import` statements.
  •  

  • Server-Side Code: Next.js allows writing server-side code where developers might inadvertently use `import` statements without the necessary configuration. The server-side environment may not be set up to handle ES Modules due to its default CommonJS setting.
  •  

  • Third-Party Packages: Some third-party Node.js packages are still written using the CommonJS format. When integrating these packages, using `import` statements even in a Next.js environment may lead to conflicts unless they are specifically transpiled or configured to support ES Modules.
  •  

  • Incorrect Script Execution: Sometimes scripts are run or referred incorrectly from CLI tools or scripts without their execution being set as part of a package configured to use ES Modules. Running modules directly from standalone scripts without the ES Module context leads to mismatches and errors.

 

// This might cause the error if the setup is not correct
import react from 'react';

 

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How to Fix Error: Cannot use import statement outside a module in Next.js

 

Configure Babel for Next.js

 

  • Ensure that your Next.js application is set up to leverage Babel for transforming ES modules into a compatible format. Install Babel, if not already installed, using:

    ```shell
    npm install --save-dev @babel/core @babel/preset-env @babel/preset-react
    ```

  •  

  • Create a babel.config.js file at the root of your project directory if it doesn't exist. Include the following configuration inside this file to ensure Babel transpiles your ES6 import/export code correctly:

    ```javascript
    module.exports = {
    presets: ['next/babel']
    };
    ```

 

Check Next.js Configuration

 

  • Make sure your next.config.js is correctly set up for custom Babel configurations:

    ```javascript
    const withPlugins = require('next-compose-plugins');
    const withTM = require('next-transpile-modules')(['some-external-module']);

    module.exports = withPlugins([withTM], {
    // additional Next.js configuration can go here
    });
    ```

  •  

  • If applicable, consider using the Next.js next-transpile-modules package to manage module imports more effectively, especially when dealing with external modules that use ES modules:

    ```shell
    npm install next-transpile-modules
    ```

 

Using Dynamic Imports

 

  • Some modules may need to be dynamically imported to ensure compatibility, especially if they are using ES modules syntax. Refactor your code to use dynamic imports where necessary:

    ```javascript
    import dynamic from 'next/dynamic';

    const Component = dynamic(() => import('path/to/your/component'), { ssr: false });
    ```

 

Ensure Correct File Extensions

 

  • If you are encountering issues with non-JavaScript files, make sure to import them correctly. Use file loader plugins in Webpack or other configurations as necessary. For example, Next.js can handle CSS imports directly, but if you encounter issues with other filetypes, ensure that they are correctly handled in your configuration.

 

Verify TypeScript Configuration

 

  • If your project uses TypeScript, ensure that your tsconfig.json is set up properly. Verify that the allowJs option is enabled to allow JavaScript files alongside TypeScript files:

    ```json
    {
    "compilerOptions": {
    "allowJs": true,
    "target": "es5",
    "module": "esnext",
    "isolatedModules": true
    }
    }
    ```

 

Run Development Server

 

  • Start the Next.js development server to test whether the error persists. Use:

    ```shell
    npm run dev
    ```

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