Скачать или смотреть Resolving the SyntaxError: Cannot use import statement outside a module in Mocha Testing

Discover how to fix the `SyntaxError: Cannot use import statement outside a module` error when running tests with Mocha and TypeScript by excluding the `node_modules` directory from your test patterns.
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This video is based on the question https://stackoverflow.com/q/67374553/ asked by the user 'Muhammad Hamza Shujaat' ( https://stackoverflow.com/u/7591374/ ) and on the answer https://stackoverflow.com/a/67820331/ provided by the user 'Ohad Chaet' ( https://stackoverflow.com/u/6361466/ ) at 'Stack Overflow' website. Thanks to these great users and Stackexchange community for their contributions.

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Understanding the SyntaxError Issue while Running Mocha Tests

Are you facing the frustrating SyntaxError: Cannot use import statement outside a module error when trying to run your Mocha tests? You're not alone! This error typically occurs when your testing setup is not configured correctly, particularly with TypeScript and Node.js.

In this guide, we'll explore the reasons behind this error and provide a step-by-step solution to help you remove it from your testing environment.

The Problem

When you run your Mocha tests, you may encounter an error message that looks similar to this:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

This error indicates that your test file is being treated as a CommonJS module rather than an ES module, which can happen due to your testing pattern.

The Specific Scenario

Here’s the error trace showing where the issue arises:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

You’ll notice that the tests from the csv-writer package are being picked up during your test runs. This can happen due to the way the file search patterns are set up in your package.json file.

The Solution

To resolve this issue, you need to exclude the node_modules directory from your test patterns in the Mocha command.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Open Your package.json File:

Locate the script section in your package.json. You will find a script for running tests that includes a pattern like this:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Modify the Test Command:

Update the test command by adding a pattern that excludes the node_modules directory. Here’s how the modified command should look:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

This modification ensures that Mocha does not scan through the node_modules folder for test files.

Verify Your Setup:

With these changes in place, run your tests again. You should no longer encounter the Cannot use import statement outside a module error, and your tests should execute as expected.

Conclusion

Errors in testing setups can be complex and often frustrating, but they are usually fixable with a little tweaking. By excluding the node_modules directory from your Mocha tests, you effectively prevent unwanted tests from interfering with your own, allowing your tests to run smoothly.

If you’re encountering this issue, we hope this guide has provided the clarity and solution you need. Happy testing!