1. Definition

require and import are used to include modules in JavaScript. require belongs to CommonJS, while import is part of ES Modules (ESM), the modern JavaScript standard.

4. Key Differences

• Syntax: require() vs import
• Module System: CommonJS vs ES Modules
• Loading: Sync vs Async
• Usage: Flexible vs Top-level only

5. Example

👉 Using require

// math.js
module.exports = function add(a, b) {
  return a + b;
};

// app.js
const add = require("./math");
console.log(add(2, 3));

👉 Using import

// math.js
export default function add(a, b) {
  return a + b;
}

// app.js
import add from "./math.js";
console.log(add(2, 3));

6. When to Use

• Use require in older Node.js projects
• Use import in modern applications
• Prefer import for frontend and full-stack apps

7. Advantages

• require is simple and flexible
• import provides cleaner and modern syntax
• Better support with modern tools and frameworks