Error cannot find module lodash

To fix the error “Cannot find module ‘lodash’” in Javascript, you must have npm and lodash knowledge. So before we get into the main content, let’s find out what they are.

What is npm, and what is lodash?

NPM stands for Node Package Manager, a tool to create and manage javascript libraries for Nodejs. If you work with javascript regularly, you must have heard about it.

Lodash, like all other packages, is hosted on npm. Lodash’s predecessor is underscored – a well-known javascript library. Lodash provides many helpful functions for working with data types in JS, such as string functions, object handler functions, and array handler functions…

Why are you getting the error “Cannot find module ‘lodash’” in Javascript?

To use lodash, you must install it from npm. If you don’t have it installed but try to use lodash like the example below, the program will crash.

index.js file:

// import 'lodash' but not installed
const _ = require("lodash");

console.log(_.trim("#####learnshareIT#####", "#"));

// expected output: learnshareIT

Output:

Error: Cannot find module 'lodash'

How to fix this problem?

Install lodash before using it.

To fix this error, you just need to install lodash before using it. Open a command line interface in your project’s directory. And type:

npm install --save lodash

If you are working with typescript, then you must install @types/lodash by typing:

npm install --save @types/lodash

Next, check package.json:

{
  "name": "my-express",
  "version": "1.0.0",
  "description": "",
  "main": "index.js",
  "scripts": {
    "start": "node index.js"
  },
  "dependencies": {
    "express": "^4.18.2",
    "lodash": "^4.17.21" // installed lodash
  }
}

Like the above code, a lodash package in the dependencies proves you have successfully installed it. Now use it.

Let’s try the first example again, but this time we have installed lodash.

index.js file:

// import lodash
const _ = require("lodash");

console.log(_.trim("######learnshareIT#####", "#"));

// expected output: learnshareIT

Output:

learnshareIT

Clear cache if lodash is installed.

If you have lodash installed and in the dependencies also have lodash but still get the error “Cannot find module ‘lodash’” in Javascript, just clear the npm cache.

First, you should delete the node_modules folder and the package-lock.js file. Then run the following two commands:

npm cache clean -force

npm install

Once done, the node_modules folder and the package_lock.json file will be reinstalled. Like this:

Now use lodash wherever you want, and you will never get the error message “Cannot find module ‘lodash’” again.

Summary

You just discovered two ways to fix the error “Cannot find module ‘lodash’” in Javascript. We believe that if you encounter the same error with another library other than lodash, you can still fix it on your own without google. If you have any questions, please comment below.

Have a great day!

Maybe you are interested:

• “TypeError: then is not a function” in JavaScript
• “Cannot destructure Property of Undefined” in JavaScript
• “Cannot find module ‘date-fns’” in Javascript
• “Cannot Read Property ‘FindIndex’ Of Undefined” In JavaScript – How To Solve It?

The “Cannot find module ‘lodash’” error occurs due to one of the following reasons:

1. The lodash module is not installed in the correct project directory.

2. Using the module without installing it in the project.

3. Installed the module in a global context and trying to access in project local context.

To solve the error “Cannot find module ‘lodash’”, open the project root folder in your terminal and run the following command to install the lodash module.

For TypeScript, you need to install the typings using the below command:

npm install --save-dev @types/lodash

Now, you can import and use the lodash module in your project like this:

const _ = require('lodash/lodash');

const a = _.join(['a', 'b', 'c'], '~');
console.log(a); // => 'a~b~c'

If you want to install a particular version of ‘lodash’ module, you can use the following command.

npm install lodash@4.17.21

If you’re still facing the error, then follow the below steps to resolve it.

1. Remove the node_modules folder and package-lock.json file, inside your project directory by using the below command.

rm-rf node_modules package-lock.json

or you can remove it manually by right-clicking on it and select the delete option.

1. Clear the npm cache.

1. Re-install the node modules again by running the npm install command.

Verify now if you’ve installed it correctly or not by opening the package.json file and check for lodash module in the dependencies object.

 "dependencies": {
     //...
    "lodash": "^4.17.21",

    //.. other packages
 }

Conclusion

The can’t find module lodash error occurs, if you’re trying to access a lodash module that is not currently installed in your project. To solve the error install the lodash module in your project directory by running the npm install lodash command.

If you use the TypeScript, you should install the typings by using the following command npm i @types/lodash --save-dev.

There are two ways to install npm packages: locally or globally. Choose which kind of installation to use based on how you want to use the package.

• If you want to depend on the package from your own module, using something like Node.js’ require, then you want to install locally. This is npm install‘s default behavior.
• If you want to use a package as a command line tool, (such as grunt CLI), then install it globally.

To learn more about the install command, check out the CLI doc page.

Installing a Package

A package can be downloaded with the command:

> npm install <package_name>

This will create the node_modules directory in your current directory (if one doesn’t exist yet) and will download the package to that directory.

Test:

To confirm that npm install worked correctly, check to see that a node_modules directory exists and that it contains a directory for the package(s) you installed.

Example:

Install a package called lodash. Confirm that it ran successfully by listing the contents of the node_modules directory, where you should see a directory called lodash.

Microsoft Windows:

C: npm install lodash
C: dir node_modules

#=> lodash

macOS, Ubuntu, Debian

> npm install lodash
> ls node_modules             

#=> lodash

Which Version of the Package is Installed?

If there is no package.json file in the local directory, the latest version of the package is installed.

If there is a package.json file, npm installs the latest version that satisfies the semver rule declared in package.json.

Using the Installed Package in Your Code

Once the package is in node_modules, you can use it in your code. For example, if you are creating a Node.js module, you can require it.

Example:

Create a file named index.js, with the following code:

// index.js
var lodash = require('lodash');
 
var output = lodash.without([1, 2, 3], 1);
console.log(output);

Run the code using node index.js. It should output [2, 3].

If you had not properly installed lodash, you would receive this error:

module.js:340
    throw err;
          ^
Error: Cannot find module 'lodash'

To fix this, run npm install lodash in the same directory as your index.js.

I was working with angular project and was using node for the server and package dependies.
After doint some package installing.

npm install was installing all the dependies.

so, i removed my node_modules folder

did again npm install and running gulp task gave me error.

[14:50:36] 'build:javascripts:templates' errored after 698 ms
[14:50:36] Error: Cannot find module 'lodash._reinterpolate'
    at Function.Module._resolveFilename (module.js:338:15)
    at Function.Module._load (module.js:280:25)
    at Module.require (module.js:364:17)
    at require (module.js:380:17)
    at Object.<anonymous> (/Users/Lokesh/Documents/

What to do? Tried everything and then
found the solution.

{sudo -H} npm i -g npm
npm i --save lodash._reinterpolate

Both solved my problem.

npm-schrinkwrap.json file ???

For the production we use npm-schrinkwrap.json file. this holds all the dependies for the project its just like package.json lock.

Note: when we do

npm install <package> --save  #will not change the `schrinkwrap`
//run
npm schrinkwrap
//now the npm-schirnkwrap will be updated