Babel-loader JSX SyntaxError: Unexpected token

If you’ve encountered the error “SyntaxError: Unexpected token” when using babel-loader with JSX in your JavaScript project, don’t worry! This error is quite common and can be easily resolved by configuring your project correctly.

Understanding the Error

The “SyntaxError: Unexpected token” error occurs when the JavaScript parser encounters an unexpected token while parsing your JSX code. This typically happens when you haven’t configured your project to transform JSX syntax using Babel.

Solution 1: Configure Babel Presets

The first solution involves configuring Babel presets to ensure that JSX syntax is transformed correctly. Follow these steps:

1. Install the necessary packages:

npm install --save-dev @babel/preset-react

2. Update your Babel configuration file (usually .babelrc or babel.config.js) to include the @babel/preset-react preset:

{
  "presets": ["@babel/preset-react"]
}

By adding the @babel/preset-react preset, Babel will be able to transform JSX syntax into valid JavaScript.

Solution 2: Ensure Correct Webpack Configuration

If you’re using webpack to bundle your JavaScript code, make sure your webpack configuration is set up correctly to handle JSX files. Follow these steps:

1. Install the necessary packages:

npm install --save-dev babel-loader

2. Update your webpack configuration file to include the babel-loader for JSX files:

module.exports = {
  // ...
  module: {
    rules: [
      {
        test: /.jsx?$/,
        exclude: /node_modules/,
        use: {
          loader: "babel-loader"
        }
      }
    ]
  }
}

By adding the babel-loader to your webpack configuration, it will automatically transform JSX syntax using Babel.

Conclusion

The “babel-loader JSX SyntaxError: Unexpected token” error can be resolved by either configuring Babel presets or ensuring correct webpack configuration. By following the provided solutions, you’ll be able to successfully transform JSX syntax and eliminate the error.

We hope this article has helped you resolve the issue. Happy coding!