@babel/eslint-parser

7.13.10 verified Sat Apr 25 auth: no javascript

An ESLint parser that leverages Babel's parser to lint all valid Babel code, including experimental and non-standard syntax (e.g., Flow, TypeScript). The current stable version is 7.29.2 (maintenance branch) with an 8.x release candidate targeting ESLint v9+. It requires @babel/core ≥7.11.0 and ESLint ≥7.5.0 (v7) or ESLint ≥9 (v8). Unlike alternatives like typescript-eslint, this parser supports the full range of Babel transforms and is maintained by the Babel core team. Release cadence is monthly for minor/patch versions.

Common errors

error Error: Could not find module '@babel/core' ↓

cause Missing @babel/core peer dependency.

fix

npm install @babel/core --save-dev

error Parsing error: Unknown parser option "requireConfigFile" ↓

cause Using an old version of ESLint (<7.5.0) that does not support this parser option.

fix

Upgrade ESLint to >=7.5.0 or remove requireConfigFile from parserOptions.

error TypeError: this.getAncestors is not a function ↓

cause Incompatible ESLint version; @babel/eslint-parser v7 requires ESLint >=7.5.0, v8 requires ESLint >=9.

fix

Match ESLint version to the parser version (e.g., ESLint 7 for @babel/eslint-parser v7).

error Error: No Babel config file detected for ... ↓

cause requireConfigFile is true (default) but no Babel configuration is found.

fix

Create a Babel config file or set requireConfigFile: false.

Warnings

breaking ESLint v7 and v8 support dropped in @babel/eslint-parser v8.0.0. ↓

fix Upgrade ESLint to v9 or stay on @babel/eslint-parser v7.x.

breaking The experimental-worker module has been made default in v8.0.0-rc.1. ↓

fix Remove any explicit references to 'experimental-worker' and use the default parser.

deprecated babel-eslint (no @) is deprecated. Use @babel/eslint-parser instead. ↓

fix Replace 'babel-eslint' with '@babel/eslint-parser' in devDependencies and ESLint config.

gotcha parserOptions.ecmaFeatures might still be needed for ESLint rules to recognize features like globalReturn. ↓

fix Add ecmaFeatures: { globalReturn: true } if using CommonJS modules.

gotcha Requires a valid Babel configuration file (babel.config.js, .babelrc, etc.) if requireConfigFile is true (default). ↓

fix Create a Babel config or set requireConfigFile: false (not recommended for transformed code).

Install

npm install babel-eslint-parser

yarn add babel-eslint-parser

pnpm add babel-eslint-parser

Imports

parser (ESLint config)
wrong
```
parser: "babel-eslint"
```
correct
```
parser: "@babel/eslint-parser"
```
The old babel-eslint package is deprecated. Use @babel/eslint-parser for Babel v7+.
eslintConfig (module.exports)
wrong
```
module.exports = { parser: "@babel/core" }
```
correct
```
module.exports = { parser: "@babel/eslint-parser" }
```
The parser property in ESLint config expects a string with the package name, not the @babel/core package.
requireConfigFile option
wrong
```
parserOptions: { requireConfigFile: true }
```
correct
```
parserOptions: { requireConfigFile: false }
```
Setting requireConfigFile to false allows linting files without a Babel config, useful for config files.

Quickstart

Shows how to configure ESLint to use @babel/eslint-parser with Babel presets and a rule.

// .eslintrc.js
module.exports = {
  parser: "@babel/eslint-parser",
  parserOptions: {
    requireConfigFile: false,
    babelOptions: {
      presets: ["@babel/preset-env", "@babel/preset-react"],
    },
  },
  rules: {
    "no-unused-vars": "warn",
  },
};

// Lint a file
// npx eslint src/**/*.js