This is by far one of the most common errors in Node.js.

Cannot use import statement outside a module

Simply put, there are two types of Node.js.

• CommonJS - uses "require"
• ES Module - uses "import"

If your package.json file has "type": "module" then you are using a module. Otherwise, you are probably using CommonJS.

{
  "type":"module",
  "dependencies": {
    "@aws-sdk/client-sns": "^3.620.0"
  }
}

For example, let's say you are trying to use Express.

• FreeKB - Node.js - Getting Started with Client Server on Linux using CommonJS
• FreeKB - Node.js - Getting Started with Client Server on Linux using ES Module

If you are using CommonJS, you would "require" Express.

const express = require("express");

If you are using ES Module, you would "import" Express.

from express import "express";