Import JSON file in NodeJs using es6

Question

Hi i'm currently learning nodejs and I try to import a json file like this :

'use strict'

import data from 'users.json'

console.log(data)

Each time I get this error "Cannot find package 'users.json'"

But if I read the file with fs it worked so can you explain me how to do please

`import data from ('./users.json')` or `var data = require('./users.json')` — demkovych, Dec 19 '19 at 13:43
Does this answer your question? [is there a require for json in node.js](https://stackoverflow.com/questions/7163061/is-there-a-require-for-json-in-node-js) — Krzysztof Krzeszewski, Dec 19 '19 at 13:44
if I do import data from ('./users.json') I get " Unknown file extension" but if I do a require I get "require is not defined" — Eexy, Dec 19 '19 at 13:51

maestro.inc · Accepted Answer · 2020-02-15T00:39:43.593

10

try :

import data from './users'

which is the es6 method of doing things or if you want an older syntax method you can try

const data = require('./users')

Okay so the explanation just is this, those fullstops and forward slash are used to indicate relative paths to the file the import is being called from, which means somethings you'd see something like for example ../file/help. The ./ means go up one directory ../ means go up two directories and so on. The name after the slash just tells your program the folder to go in to look for the file to import from so ./folder means go up one directory and enter into the folder directory and so on.

Almost forgot to mention, you should not import from a json file or a text file or any other file that does not have a .js extention(of which you do not actually have to specify) unless absolutely neccessary. To deal with files in node you have to use the fs library.

const fs =require('fs')

....

fs.readFile('./users.json','utf-8',(err,jsonString)=>{
        const data = JSON.parse(jsonString);
         //whatever other code you may fanacy
         }

take a look at the fs module for a list of awesome features you can use to play with files

edited Feb 15 '20 at 00:39

answered Dec 19 '19 at 13:54

maestro.inc

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if I do like your suggest I get "Unknown file extension: C:\users\isaib\js\app\users.json" – Eexy Dec 19 '19 at 13:58
sorry about that, i have updated my answer with better explanation – maestro.inc Dec 19 '19 at 14:07
I believe you can import JSON file like this: `const data = require('./temp.json');`. It worked for me. – Shihab Dec 19 '19 at 14:13
although it is still probably better practice to just use the fs module and save your self a lot of trouble in the future – maestro.inc Dec 19 '19 at 14:19
1

I think the importing a JSON is fine if you need to load in a small config file for a web app or something similar. – DollarAkshay Feb 12 '21 at 17:17

score 4 · Answer 2 · answered Feb 10 '21 at 18:55

While the selected answer is correct, here's an explanation that I hope might add some clarity:

import MyModule from 'some-module'

is ES6 import syntax, as opposed to the older CommonJS syntax, which uses require.

CommonJS's require can be used to import files generally; ES6's import statement is more specific, and is generally used for importing js files which meet the criteria for being a module (having an export statement), or specific assets such as CSS sheets. Unlike require, it won't generally work for reading in files that are not modules.

You can't mix CommonJS require and ES6 import in the same file (at least not easily), so if you're using ES6 import and wish to read a file, do so with fs.readFileSync or a similar method. If the file is a json string, you'll need to parse it with JSON.parse().

SridharKritha · Answer 3 · 2022-11-12T14:41:57.813

2

If you want to use ES6 (NOT CommonJS) module system but want to use the Node.js version which is less than V18 (supports direct json import) then use the below approach.

import { createRequire } from "module";          
const require = createRequire(import.meta.url);  // construct the require method
const data = require("users.json");              // Now you can use require method in ES6
console.log(data)

edited Nov 12 '22 at 14:41

answered Oct 10 '22 at 17:02

SridharKritha

8,481
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Import JSON file in NodeJs using es6

3 Answers3