Node cannot find module "fs" when using webpack

Question

I'm using node.js and webpack to create a bundle. From what I've read, node.js should contain fs module for managing files. However when I call require("fs") I get an Cannot find module "fs" error. What should I do?

Answer 1

I came across this problem myself when bundling with webpack and found the answer on this thread.

The way to solve it for me was to use the following config:

module.exports = {   entry: "./app",   output: {     path: __dirname,     filename: "bundle.js"   },   module: {       loaders: [           {                 test: /\.js$/,               exclude: 'node_modules',               loader: 'babel',               query: {presets: ['es2015']},           }       ]   },   target: 'node' }; 

By setting target to node webpack will make the necessary changes to bundle your node application

Edit: This answer targeted webpack 1.x which has now been superseded.

Answer 2

If you are running your webpack bundle in nodejs environment then target: 'node' is required in webpack.config.js file otherwise webpack takes default value as web for target check here.

You can resolve the issue in two ways

Add below configuration to your webpack.config.js

node: {     fs: "empty" } 

OR

Add below configuration to your package.json

"browser": {     "fs": false } 

Edit:

promising fix is

"browser": {    "fs": false }