Is it possible to run a node.js script as a module with the node command (without using package.json)?

Question

Let's say I have a code.js file with the following node.js script:

const axios = require('axios')

async function getData(){
    const response = await axios.get('https://mypage.com.br')
    console.log(response.data)
}
getData()

If I execute it with node code.js it works perfectly fine... However, I'd like to execute it as a module, just so I can use the import statement and use the await command as top level. I'd like to accomplish that without creating a project with a package.json file. My final result would be something like this:

import axios from 'axios' 

const response = await axios.get('https://mypage.com.br')
console.log(response.data)

I haven't managed to make it work with the node command. I know there's a --input-type=module parameter I can use with it. But I've tried running node --input-type=module code.js and I've received the following error:

SyntaxError: Cannot use import statement outside a module

So, that means it's not even being recognized as a module yet. Is it possible to do? Can I execute an isolated script with the command node as a module (while using await on top level)?

0xLogN · Accepted Answer · 2022-04-10 04:16:55Z

21

Rename the file to name.mjs. This --input-type parameter only applies to STDIN and --eval-d files.

answered Apr 10, 2022 at 4:16

0xLogN

3,8831 gold badge20 silver badges40 bronze badges

Sign up to request clarification or add additional context in comments.

2 Comments

raylight Over a year ago

Thanks, it worked after renaming the file. But I'm in a very specific case where renaming the file is not a viable solution. Isn't there any way of declaring it as a module without renaming the file?

0xLogN Over a year ago

No. There isn't.

marcelocra · Accepted Answer · 2024-04-08 16:38:23Z

18

This isn't really possible from the command line. You have only two options for making your file ESM.

Edit package.json to have the following key and value.
```
{
  "type": "module"
}
```
Change the file extensions from .js to .mjs. The m stands for module.

In conclusion, the flag below doesn't help with changing the type to module.

# DOESN'T WORK LIKE THIS. SEE BELOW:
$ node code.js --input-type=module

# However, as pointed out in the other answers, you can:
$ cat code.js | node --input-type=module

edited Apr 8, 2024 at 16:38

marcelocra

2,5612 gold badges29 silver badges37 bronze badges

answered Apr 10, 2022 at 7:53

Viradex

3,8783 gold badges15 silver badges40 bronze badges

1 Comment

0xLogN Over a year ago

From my answer: The --input-type flag only applies to --eval'd or source STDIN files.

raylight · Accepted Answer · 2023-08-10 23:17:32Z

6

A different alternative without renaming the file is executing the code with a pipe in bash. The following command works fine as a module:

cat code.js | node --input-type=module

edited Aug 10, 2023 at 23:17

answered Jan 4, 2023 at 18:43

raylight

7271 gold badge10 silver badges24 bronze badges

1 Comment

Melroy van den Berg Over a year ago

too bad there is an option like node --type=module ./code.js. would be cool.

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

Is it possible to run a node.js script as a module with the node command (without using package.json)?

3 Answers 3

2 Comments

1 Comment

1 Comment

Your Answer

Hot Network Questions

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

3 Answers 3

2 Comments

1 Comment

1 Comment

Your Answer

Sign up or log in

Post as a guest

Related