Fix: Field ‘browser’ doesn’t contain a valid alias configuration

The Field ‘browser’ doesn’t contain a valid alias configuration error line shows up in Webpack when the user is bundling JavaScript, recreating config, or compiling SCSS.

This will stop you from making any further progress with building your web app, indicating that the current version of the browser doesn’t support this code. Needless to say, this breaks the momentum of the developers and hinders their work.

This error mainly occurs due to wrong import paths and entry values. If the code in either of these two is wrong, this error line will appear immediately. So, the users need to make sure they are using the correct coding for the import paths and entry values.

Furthermore, an incorrect syntax-case can also be the reason for this issue. However, it has an easy solution where the users need to change the capital C to a small c in the path coordinate.

Below you’ll find a step-by-step guide to our 6 tried-and-tested methods to counter this complication.

1. Modify Import Paths

Import paths are used to locate the module code that the users want to include in the bundle. It’s obvious that if you write the wrong statement, Webpack will be unable to find the module code, and hence the field browser error will occur.

Following are four simple steps through which you can modify the import paths to the correct form:

1. Check the configuration file.
2. Find the following line: import DoISuportIt from ‘components/DoISuportIt’;
3. Simply add ./ before components like this: import DoISuportIt from ‘./components/DoISuportIt’;

4. Reload the NPM package now and execute your build again.

2. Set the Correct Entry Value

An incorrect entry value is another common reason for the Field ‘browser’ doesn’t contain a valid alias configuration error. Entry value makes sure the information transfers smoothly between the alias and the server. It also indicates where Webpack should begin the bundle-building process.

If some characters are missing from the value, it won’t work properly, and hence the web application will not run. But again, it’s easy to review the entry values and make changes if there’s something wrong.

Here’s how you can make the changes:

1. Find the entry value in the configuration file.
2. Make sure it has ./ at the beginning of the syntax.

3. In the image above, the entry value is ‘./src/main.js’. As can be seen, there’s ./ before src which makes the code right.
4. If it weren’t for this, the valid alias error would have appeared.
5. Lastly, ensure the addition of the resolve value as highlighted below.

3. Verify the name of Aliases

Many developers often overlook this, but the name of your aliases can be the reason why the code is not running properly. You have to make sure that when you create aliases, their names are all different from one another.

If the names of two aliases are the same, this error will take place and the web application won’t develop. The users need to verify that the alias name they are using isn’t already taken.

Here’s what you should do:

1. Open the configuration file.
2. Locate your aliases.
3. Review them to see if two or more aliases have the same name.
4. Change them if they are similar.
5. Run the code again.

4. Ensure Correct Syntax

Making typing mistakes in the code or entering the wrong values is another reason for the error under discussion. Sometimes everything else could be right, but there would be a small syntax error in the code that was ruining the bundling process.

Follow the steps below to review your syntax in Webpack:

1. Go to the webpack.config.js file.
2. Go through the code and look for any mistakes.
3. Insert the export command if it isn’t present at the end, as follows: export default Config;

4. Now try to build the bundle again and see whether the error is gone or not.

5. Change Syntax Case

Wrong syntax cases are another frequent cause of the Field ‘browser’ doesn’t contain a valid alias configuration error. The users must ensure that they are consistent with their usage of the syntax and do not enter incorrect capital or small letters. If there is a casing problem, the web application will not run no matter how many times you reload NPM.

The correct syntax-case can be set from the configuration file in the following steps:

1. Open the configuration file and locate the following line: ./path/pathCoordinate/pathCoordinateForm.component
2. Now simply change the capital C to small c in pathCoordinate as follows: ./path/pathcoordinate/pathCoordinateForm.component

3. Now reload NPM and see whether the web application is running now.

6. Update your Browser

It’s recommended for developers to always keep their browsers up-to-date to avoid any execution problems. If the browser you’re trying to run the web application on is outdated, the field browser error will certainly show up. An older version of Chrome, Firefox, or Edge would not be able to read the latest alias configuration settings.

Below are the steps for updating Google Chrome:

Note: The steps will vary for other browsers.

1. Launch Google Chrome and click on the three dots at the top-right corner.
2. Now click on Settings from the drop-down menu.
3. Go to About Chrome and see if there are any updates available.
4. In case of an update, do install it and then relaunch your browser for the newer version to take effect.

5. Now try and execute the code for your web application to see if it works.