@babel/helper-module-transforms

What is @babel/helper-module-transforms?

The @babel/helper-module-transforms package is part of the Babel toolchain, designed to assist in the transformation of ECMAScript modules. It provides utility functions and helpers that facilitate the conversion of ES6 module syntax (import/export) to various module systems (like CommonJS, AMD, UMD, etc.) that are compatible with different environments and bundlers. This package is mainly used internally by Babel plugins to abstract and simplify the handling of module transformations.

What are @babel/helper-module-transforms's main functionalities?

Transform ES6 import/export to CommonJS

This feature allows the transformation of ES6 module syntax into CommonJS syntax, enabling compatibility with environments that support CommonJS modules. The code sample demonstrates how an ES6 import statement is transformed into a CommonJS require call.

"use strict";\n\nvar _foo = require("foo");\n\nfunction _interopRequireDefault(obj) { return obj && obj.__esModule ? obj : { default: obj }; }\n\nvar _foo2 = _interopRequireDefault(_foo);\n\nconsole.log(_foo2.default);

Interoperability with default and named exports

Ensures interoperability between ES6 modules and CommonJS by handling default and named exports. The code sample shows how a default export in ES6 is transformed to be compatible with CommonJS, including the use of Object.defineProperty to simulate ES6 export behavior.

"use strict";\n\nObject.defineProperty(exports, "__esModule", {\n  value: true\n});\nexports.default = void 0;\nvar _default = 'Hello, world!';\nexports.default = _default;

Other packages similar to @babel/helper-module-transforms

@babel/plugin-transform-modules-commonjs

This package is a Babel plugin that transforms ES6 modules to CommonJS modules. It is similar to @babel/helper-module-transforms in that it deals with module transformation, but it is specifically a plugin that can be added to Babel configurations to apply the transformation, whereas @babel/helper-module-transforms provides the underlying functionalities used by such plugins.

rollup-plugin-babel

While not a direct alternative, rollup-plugin-babel integrates Babel with Rollup, a module bundler. This plugin allows Rollup to use Babel for transforming JavaScript, including module syntax. It's similar in the sense that it deals with module transformations as part of the build process, but it operates within the Rollup ecosystem.

README

@babel/helper-module-transforms

Babel helper functions for implementing ES6 module transformations

See our website @babel/helper-module-transforms for more information.

Install

Using npm:

npm install --save @babel/helper-module-transforms

or using yarn:

yarn add @babel/helper-module-transforms

Changelog

v7.27.3 (2025-05-27)

:bug: Bug Fix

• babel-generator
  • #17324 Improve multiline comments handling in yield/await expression (@JLHwung)
• babel-helpers, babel-plugin-transform-async-generator-functions, babel-plugin-transform-regenerator, babel-preset-env, babel-runtime-corejs3
  • #17328 Correctly set .displayName on GeneratorFunction (@nicolo-ribaudo)
• babel-plugin-proposal-explicit-resource-management
  • #17319 fix: handle shadowed binding in for using of body (@JLHwung)
  • #17317 fix: support named evaluation for using declaration (@JLHwung)
• babel-plugin-proposal-decorators, babel-types
  • #17321 fix(converter): Remove abstract modifiers in class declaration to expression conversion (@magic-akari)
• babel-helper-module-transforms, babel-plugin-proposal-explicit-resource-management, babel-plugin-transform-modules-amd, babel-plugin-transform-modules-commonjs, babel-plugin-transform-modules-umd
  • #17257 Preserve class id when transforming using declarations with exported class (@JLHwung)
• babel-parser
  • #17312 fix(parser): properly handle optional markers in generator class methods (@magic-akari)
  • #17307 fix(parser): Terminate modifier parsing at newline (@magic-akari)
• babel-generator, babel-parser
  • #17308 Improve import phase parsing (@JLHwung)