What is the difference between require and import in Node.js?

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The main difference between require and import in Node.js lies in their underlying module systems, syntax, and loading mechanisms.

Module System

  • require uses the CommonJS module system, the traditional standard in Node.js.

  • import uses the ES6 (ECMAScript) Module system, the modern JavaScript standard adopted in recent Node.js and browser environments.

Syntax and Usage

  • require: Uses the syntax const module = require('module-name'), can be called anywhere in code (including inside functions or conditionals).

  • import: Uses import module from 'module-name' and is typically placed at the top of the file (static imports); only dynamic imports (import('module')) can be used conditionally or inside functions.

Loading Behavior

  • require loads modules synchronously—the code waits for the module to load before continuing.

  • import (static import) loads modules asynchronously; dynamic import (import()) is always async and returns a Promise.

Exports

  • require reads values exported via module.exports or exports (single export object).

  • import supports both default and named exports, offering more flexibility.

Compatibility and Configuration

  • require is supported by default in Node.js and works out-of-the-box.

  • import requires adding "type": "module" in package.json or using the .mjs file extension in Node.js projects.

When to Use

  • Use require for legacy Node.js codebases and when dynamic or conditional importing is needed.

  • Use import for modern code, front-end frameworks, tree-shaking and when targeting ES modules in new projects.

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