Resolving Webpack 5's 'Uncaught ReferenceError: process is not defined'

Summary: Encountering the "Uncaught ReferenceError: process is not defined" error in Webpack 5? Discover why this happens and how to fix it in your JavaScript and Webpack configurations.
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Resolving Webpack 5's "Uncaught ReferenceError: process is not defined"

Webpack 5 has brought many improvements and changes, but it has also introduced some challenges for developers migrating from previous versions. One common issue that developers face is the "Uncaught ReferenceError: process is not defined" error. This guide will help you understand why this error occurs and how you can resolve it in your Webpack 5 project.

Why Does This Error Occur?

This change was made to reduce the bundle size and streamline configurations, allowing developers to include only the polyfills they need. As a result, code that relies on the process object will throw an "Uncaught ReferenceError: process is not defined" unless we explicitly polyfill process in our Webpack configuration.

How to Fix the "Uncaught ReferenceError: process is not defined" Error

To fix this error, you need to add a polyfill for the process object in your Webpack 5 configuration. Here are the steps to do so:

Install the Polyfill Package

First, you need to install the process package. You can do this using npm or yarn:

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or

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Update Webpack Configuration

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This configuration does two things:

The ProvidePlugin automatically loads the process module wherever process is used as a global.

Verifying the Solution

After updating your configuration, rebuild your project by running the Webpack build command:

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or

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If everything is correctly set up, the "Uncaught ReferenceError: process is not defined" error should be resolved, and your application should work as expected.

Conclusion

Happy coding!