How to fix SyntaxError: Unexpected identifier in import statement in React

ReactINTERMEDIATEHIGHUpdated Dec 10, 2025· 168 views

This error occurs when your import statement has incorrect syntax, typically due to mismatched curly braces, imports at wrong scope level, or file not being treated as a module. In React, common causes include forgetting curly braces for named exports or incorrectly using default import syntax.

Quick fix

Fixes SyntaxError: Unexpected identifier in import statement

// Correct
import React from 'react';
import App from './App';

// Wrong - includes curly braces
import { React } from 'react'; // SyntaxError!
  1. Check your import statement for correct curly brace usage
  2. Verify import statements are at the top level of your module
  3. Ensure your file is configured as an ES module
  4. Check your build tool and Babel configuration
react — error
// Correct
import React from 'react';
import App from './App';
// Wrong - includes curly braces
import { React } from 'react'; // SyntaxError!
SyntaxError: Unexpected identifier in import statement

What this error means

The "SyntaxError: Unexpected identifier in import statement" error occurs when the JavaScript parser encounters an invalid syntax structure in your import declaration. This typically means the parser expected a specific token (like a comma, closing brace, or semicolon) but found an identifier instead. In React applications, this error most commonly happens due to one of three issues: 1. **Incorrect curly brace usage**: Forgetting curly braces when importing named exports, or incorrectly using curly braces with default exports. 2. **Import statement placement**: Attempting to place an import statement inside a function, conditional block, or anywhere other than the module's top level. 3. **Module system misconfiguration**: Your file is not being treated as an ES module, causing the JavaScript parser to reject the import syntax entirely. The error name "Unexpected identifier" refers to the parser finding a variable name or identifier where it expected different syntax structure.

Typical symptoms

  • JavaScript/TypeScript compiler throws a SyntaxError immediately upon parsing your file
  • Error message includes the line number of your import statement
  • Error occurs even before any code execution—during the parse/compile phase
  • Webpack, Babel, or build tool fails to compile your project
  • Tests fail with SyntaxError when Jest processes files with import statements
  • import statement highlighted in your IDE as a syntax error

Common causes

  1. Forgetting curly braces for named exports (e.g., `import useState from 'react'` instead of `import { useState } from 'react'`)
  2. Incorrectly adding curly braces to default exports (e.g., `import { React } from 'react'` instead of `import React from 'react'`)
  3. Placing an import statement inside a function, conditional block, or nested scope instead of the top level
  4. File not configured as an ES module (missing `type="module"` in HTML script tag for browsers, or `"type": "module"` in package.json for Node.js)
  5. Babel or build tool not configured to transpile import statements for your target environment
  6. Typos or extra spaces in import syntax (e.g., `impor` instead of `import`)
  7. Using dynamic import syntax incorrectly (missing parentheses or parentheses in wrong place)

How to fix "SyntaxError: Unexpected identifier in import statement"

1Check your import statement for correct curly brace usage

The most common cause is incorrect curly brace syntax. Determine whether you're importing a named export or default export:

Default exports (no curly braces):

javascript
// Correct
import React from 'react';
import App from './App';

// Wrong - includes curly braces
import { React } from 'react'; // SyntaxError!

Named exports (with curly braces):

javascript
// Correct
import { useState, useEffect } from 'react';
import { Button, Card } from './components/ui';

// Wrong - missing curly braces
import useState from 'react'; // SyntaxError!

Mixed imports (both default and named):

javascript
// Correct
import React, { useState, useEffect } from 'react';

// Wrong - curly braces in wrong order
import { useState }, React from 'react'; // SyntaxError!

Review your import statements and add or remove curly braces as needed based on what the module exports.

2Verify import statements are at the top level of your module

Import statements must appear at the very top of your file, before any other code. They cannot be nested inside functions, conditionals, or class bodies.

Correct - import at top level:

javascript
import { useState } from 'react';
import { Button } from './ui';

export function MyComponent() {
  // Code here
}

Wrong - import inside function:

javascript
export function MyComponent() {
  import { useState } from 'react'; // SyntaxError!
  // Code here
}

Wrong - import inside conditional:

javascript
if (someCondition) {
  import { useState } from 'react'; // SyntaxError!
}

If you need conditional imports, use dynamic import with the async/await or .then() syntax:

javascript
// Dynamic import - loads at runtime
if (someCondition) {
  import('react').then(({ useState }) => {
    // Use useState here
  });
}

// Or with async/await
async function loadStuff() {
  const { useState } = await import('react');
  // Use useState here
}
3Ensure your file is configured as an ES module

For browser environments, add type="module" to your script tag:

html
<!-- Without type="module" - import won't work -->
<script src="index.js"></script>

<!-- Correct - tells browser this is an ES module -->
<script type="module" src="index.js"></script>

For Node.js environments, ensure your package.json has:

json
{
  "type": "module",
  "name": "my-project",
  "version": "1.0.0"
}

Or use the .mjs file extension instead (script.mjs instead of script.js).

For Create React App or Next.js, this configuration is handled automatically—ES modules are supported by default.

4Check your build tool and Babel configuration

If using Webpack, Jest, or Babel directly, verify your configuration handles ES modules:

For Babel (.babelrc or babel.config.js):

json
{
  "presets": [
    "@babel/preset-react",
    ["@babel/preset-env", { "modules": "auto" }]
  ]
}

For Jest (jest.config.js):

javascript
module.exports = {
  transform: {
    '^.+\\.(js|jsx|ts|tsx)$': 'babel-jest',
  },
  testEnvironment: 'jsdom',
};

Make sure:
- The @babel/preset-react preset is installed for JSX support
- Your bundler or test runner has Babel configured to transform import statements
- File extensions are included in your transforms (if using TypeScript, include .ts and .tsx)

5Check for typos and whitespace in your import statement

Review the exact spelling of the import keyword and module name:

Common typos:

javascript
impor { useState } from 'react';     // Wrong - typo in keyword
import { useState } form 'react';    // Wrong - 'form' instead of 'from'
import { useState } from 'rreact';   // Wrong - extra 'r' in module name

Also check for extra spaces or characters:

javascript
import  { useState }  from  'react'; // Might be treated as error in some parsers

The whitespace itself is usually fine, but verify the keyword import and preposition from are spelled correctly.

Advanced notes

ESM vs CommonJS: Modern React and Next.js projects exclusively use ES modules (import/export), but legacy projects may mix CommonJS (require/module.exports). If your codebase has both, ensure you're not trying to use import syntax in a CommonJS-only file.

TypeScript considerations: If using TypeScript, the same rules apply. Ensure your tsconfig.json has appropriate module and moduleResolution settings:

json
{
  "compilerOptions": {
    "module": "esnext",
    "moduleResolution": "node",
    "target": "esnext"
  }
}

Re-exports: When re-exporting from other modules, ensure syntax matches:

javascript
// Re-export named exports
export { useState, useEffect } from 'react';

// Re-export default export
export { default as Button } from './Button';

// Re-export everything
export * from './utils';

Frequently asked questions

What does "SyntaxError: Unexpected identifier in import statement" mean?
The "SyntaxError: Unexpected identifier in import statement" error occurs when the JavaScript parser encounters an invalid syntax structure in your import declaration. This typically means the parser expected a specific token (like a comma, closing brace, or semicolon) but found an identifier instead. In React applications, this error most commonly happens due to one of three issues: 1.
How do I fix "SyntaxError: Unexpected identifier in import statement"?
This error occurs when your import statement has incorrect syntax, typically due to mismatched curly braces, imports at wrong scope level, or file not being treated as a module. In React, common causes include forgetting curly braces for named exports or incorrectly using default import syntax.
What causes "SyntaxError: Unexpected identifier in import statement"?
Forgetting curly braces for named exports (e.g., import useState from 'react' instead of import { useState } from 'react') Incorrectly adding curly braces to default exports (e.g., import { React } from 'react' instead of import React from 'react') Placing an import statement inside a function, conditional block, or nested scope instead of the top level
Is the "SyntaxError: Unexpected identifier in import statement" error serious?
Yes. This is a high-severity error that usually blocks work until it is fixed, but the steps above resolve it.

Official resources & further reading