[javascript] Using import fs from 'fs'

I want to use import fs from 'fs' in JavaScript. Here is a sample:

import fs from 'fs'

var output = fs.readFileSync('someData.txt')

console.log(output)

The error I get when I run my file using node main.js is:

(function (exports, require, module, __filename, __dirname) { import fs from 'fs
'
                                                              ^^^^^^
SyntaxError: Unexpected token import

What should I install in Node.js in order to achieve importing modules and functions from other places?

The new ECMAScript module support is able natively in Node.js 12

It was released on 2019-04-23 and it means there is no need to use the flag --experimental-modules.

To read more about it:

The new ECMAScript module support in Node.js 12

It's not supported just yet... If you want to use it you will have to install Babel.

In order to use import { readFileSync } from 'fs', you have to:

1. Be using Node.js 10 or later
2. Use the --experimental-modules flag (in Node.js 10), e.g. node --experimental-modules server.mjs (see #3 for explanation of .mjs)
3. Rename the file extension of your file with the import statements, to .mjs, .js will not work, e.g. server.mjs

The other answers hit on 1 and 2, but 3 is also necessary. Also, note that this feature is considered extremely experimental at this point (1/10 stability) and not recommended for production, but I will still probably use it.

Here's the Node.js 10 ESM documentation.

For default exports you should use:

import * as fs from 'fs';

Or in case the module has named exports:

import {fs} from 'fs';

Example:

//module1.js

export function function1() {
  console.log('f1')
}

export function function2() {
  console.log('f2')
}

export default function1;

And then:

import defaultExport, { function1, function2 } from './module1'

defaultExport();  // This calls function1
function1();
function2();

Additionally, you should use Webpack or something similar to be able to use ES6 import

If we are using TypeScript, we can update the type definition file by running the command npm install @types/node from the terminal or command prompt.

Building on RobertoNovelo's answer:

import * as fs from 'fs';

is currently the simplest way to do it.

It was tested with a Node.js project (Node.js v10.15.3), with esm, allowing to use import.