unexpected identifier JavaScript Origin: On your device Last updated 11 Oct 2026

SyntaxError: Unexpected identifier

The parser found a name where it expected punctuation — usually a missing comma, operator or quote.

Exact message you may see Unexpected identifierunexpected token: identifier
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Seen on: JavaScript

Meaning

Missing commas in object literals/arrays, a missing + between strings, or using import in a non-module script all produce it.

Common causes

  • Missing comma between object properties
  • Missing operator between values
  • import/export in a classic script
  • Unquoted string

⚡ Quick fix

  1. Check the line before the error
  2. Run a linter/formatter
  3. Use type="module" for import statements

Detailed fix by platform

JavaScript

  1. Prettier or ESLint pinpoints the missing punctuation instantly

How to diagnose

  1. Line — The reported line and the one above
  2. Recent change — Did it start after a deploy, upgrade, or configuration change? Compare with the last working version.

🔧 Still not fixed?

Many errors look alike. If the steps above didn’t solve it, one of these is probably what you’re facing:

Where this error sits

Origin: On your device. Errors that are often confused with or caused by this one (click to open):

already declared — SyntaxError: Identifier 'x' has already been declared (JavaScript)already declaredawait outside async — SyntaxError: await is only valid in async functions and the top level bodies of modules (JavaScript)await outside asyncGraphQL Syntax Error — GraphQL: Syntax Error: Expected Name, found <EOF> / Unexpected } (API)GraphQL Syntax Errorinvalid regex — SyntaxError: Invalid regular expression: /x/: Unterminated group (JavaScript)invalid regexinvalid token — SyntaxError: Invalid or unexpected token (JavaScript)invalid tokenmissing ) — SyntaxError: missing ) after argument list (JavaScript)missing )unexpected end of input — SyntaxError: Unexpected end of input (JavaScript)unexpected end of inp…Unexpected token < — SyntaxError: Unexpected token '<' (HTML served instead of JavaScript) (JavaScript)Unexpected token <unexpecte…

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