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How to Resolve "Error: Cannot find module 'lodash'" Error in JavaScript

The Error: Cannot find module 'lodash' is a very common error in the Node.js ecosystem. It is a clear and direct message: your application is trying to import or require the lodash package, but Node.js cannot find it within your project's dependencies. This almost always means the package has not been installed.

This guide will explain the root cause of this error and provide the definitive solutions for both JavaScript and TypeScript projects. You will learn how to correctly install the package, its type definitions, and the steps to perform a clean reinstall to fix any stubborn dependency issues.

Understanding the Root Cause: Node.js Module Resolution​

When you write import _ from 'lodash'; in your code, the Node.js runtime performs a module resolution process. It looks for a folder named lodash inside your project's node_modules directory. If it doesn't find that folder, it has no way to load the package's code, and it throws the Cannot find module error.

The error is a direct signal that the lodash package is missing from your node_modules folder.

Solution 1 (Most Common): Install the lodash Package​

The most direct solution is to install the lodash package using your package manager (NPM or Yarn).

For example, this code tries to import a package that is not installed.

// ⛔️ This line will throw the error if lodash is not installed
import _ from 'lodash';

The solution is to open your terminal in the root directory of your project (the same folder that contains your package.json file) and run the installation command.

For NPM:

npm install lodash

For Yarn:

yarn add lodash
note

This command does two things:

  1. It downloads the lodash package from the package registry.
  2. It adds lodash to the dependencies section of your package.json file and updates the package-lock.json or yarn.lock file.

Solution 2 (for TypeScript): Install the Type Definitions​

If you are using TypeScript, you may encounter a related error even after installing lodash: Cannot find module 'lodash' or its corresponding type declarations.

This means TypeScript knows the JavaScript code is there, but it can't find the type definitions (.d.ts files) that describe the shape of the Lodash library (its functions, arguments, and return types).

Most popular JavaScript libraries have a separate, community-managed package of type definitions. For lodash, you need to install @types/lodash as a development dependency.

# For NPM
npm install --save-dev @types/lodash

# For Yarn
yarn add --dev @types/lodash
note

Notice the --save-dev (or --dev): This is important. It adds the package to the devDependencies section of your package.json. Type definitions are only needed during development for type-checking and are not needed in the final production build.

Solution 3 (for Stubborn Issues): A Clean Reinstall of Dependencies​

Sometimes, your node_modules folder or your lock file can get into a corrupted or inconsistent state. If the simple install command doesn't fix the issue, a full, clean reinstall is the next best step.

The Solution is to run the following commands from your project's root directory.

For macOS / Linux:

# 1. Remove all dependencies and lock files
rm -rf node_modules
rm -f package-lock.json yarn.lock

# 2. Optional but recommended: clear the npm cache
npm cache clean --force

# 3. Reinstall all packages from package.json
npm install

For Windows (CMD):

# 1. Remove all dependencies and lock files
rd /s /q "node_modules"
del package-lock.json
del yarn.lock

# 2. Optional but recommended: clear the npm cache
npm cache clean --force

# 3. Reinstall all packages from package.json
npm install

After reinstalling, restart your code editor and development server.

How to Verify the Installation​

After running the installation, you can confirm everything is correct in two ways:

  1. Check package.json: Your package.json file should now contain entries for lodash (and @types/lodash for TypeScript). 
    {
      "dependencies": {
        "lodash": "^4.17.21"
      },
      "devDependencies": {
        "@types/lodash": "^4.14.191"
      }
    }
  2. Check node_modules: Look inside your node_modules folder. You should see a directory named lodash (and @types/lodash if applicable).

Conclusion​

The Cannot find module 'lodash' error is almost always a straightforward dependency issue.

To fix it:

  • The primary solution is to install the package by running npm install lodash or yarn add lodash.
  • If you are using TypeScript, you must also install the type definitions as a development dependency: npm install --save-dev @types/lodash.
  • If the error persists, a clean reinstall of all your project's dependencies will usually resolve any corruption issues.

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