Phase 2 · Node.js Fundamentals

Topics

Modules (CommonJS vs ESM)

Part of the Backend Developer Roadmap.

Summary

Node's two module systems — the original `require`/`module.exports` (CommonJS) and the newer standard `import`/`export` (ES Modules) — with different loading behavior and syntax.

How to Learn This

  • 1Write the same small module in both CommonJS and ESM syntax.
  • 2Learn how to enable ESM in a Node project (`"type": "module"` in package.json).
  • 3Understand why CommonJS is synchronous and ESM is asynchronous under the hood.
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