electron Uncaught ReferenceError: require is not defined

How to fix "electron Uncaught ReferenceError: require is not defined" error?

If you are working with Electron and you received an error message that says "electron Uncaught ReferenceError: require is not defined", don't panic. This error occurs when you are trying to use the "require" function in a renderer process.

What is "require" function in Electron?

"require" function in Electron is similar to the one in Node.js. It is used to load modules and files in the application. However, it cannot be used in the renderer process by default.

How to fix the error?

There are a few ways to fix this error:

  • Option 1: Use "preload" script

You can use a preload script to access the "require" function in the renderer process. To do this, create a new file called "preload.js" in your project's root directory and add the following code:


window.nodeRequire = require;
delete window.require;
delete window.exports;
delete window.module;

Then, in your app's main process, add the following code:


mainWindow = new BrowserWindow({
  webPreferences: {
    preload: path.join(__dirname, 'preload.js')
  }
});
  • Option 2: Use "remote" module

You can also use the "remote" module to access modules and functions from the main process in the renderer process. To do this, add the following code to your renderer process:


const { remote } = require('electron');
const fs = remote.require('fs');

This will allow you to use the "fs" module in the renderer process without throwing an error.

Conclusion

These are just a few ways to fix the "electron Uncaught ReferenceError: require is not defined" error. Depending on your project's needs, one solution may be better than the other.

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