# VM (executing JavaScript)
> Stability: 2 - Stable
The `node:vm` module enables compiling and running code within V8 Virtual
Machine contexts.
The `node:vm` module is not a security
mechanism. Do not use it to run untrusted code.
JavaScript code can be compiled and run immediately or
compiled, saved, and run later.
A common use case is to run the code in a different V8 Context. This means
invoked code has a different global object than the invoking code.
One can provide the context by [_contextifying_][contextified] an
object. The invoked code treats any property in the context like a
global variable. Any changes to global variables caused by the invoked
code are reflected in the context object.
```js
const vm = require('node:vm');
const x = 1;
const context = { x: 2 };
vm.createContext(context); // Contextify the object.
const code = 'x += 40; var y = 17;';
// `x` and `y` are global variables in the context.
// Initially, x has the value 2 because that is the value of context.x.
vm.runInContext(code, context);
console.log(context.x); // 42
console.log(context.y); // 17
console.log(x); // 1; y is not defined.
```
## Class: `vm.Script`
Instances of the `vm.Script` class contain precompiled scripts that can be
executed in specific contexts.
### `new vm.Script(code[, options])`
* `code` {string} The JavaScript code to compile.
* `options` {Object|string}
* `filename` {string} Specifies the filename used in stack traces produced
by this script. **Default:** `'evalmachine.'`.
* `lineOffset` {number} Specifies the line number offset that is displayed
in stack traces produced by this script. **Default:** `0`.
* `columnOffset` {number} Specifies the first-line column number offset that
is displayed in stack traces produced by this script. **Default:** `0`.
* `cachedData` {Buffer|TypedArray|DataView} Provides an optional `Buffer` or
`TypedArray`, or `DataView` with V8's code cache data for the supplied
source. When supplied, the `cachedDataRejected` value will be set to
either `true` or `false` depending on acceptance of the data by V8.
* `produceCachedData` {boolean} When `true` and no `cachedData` is present, V8
will attempt to produce code cache data for `code`. Upon success, a
`Buffer` with V8's code cache data will be produced and stored in the
`cachedData` property of the returned `vm.Script` instance.
The `cachedDataProduced` value will be set to either `true` or `false`
depending on whether code cache data is produced successfully.
This option is **deprecated** in favor of `script.createCachedData()`.
**Default:** `false`.
* `importModuleDynamically` {Function} Called during evaluation of this module
when `import()` is called. If this option is not specified, calls to
`import()` will reject with [`ERR_VM_DYNAMIC_IMPORT_CALLBACK_MISSING`][].
This option is part of the experimental modules API. We do not recommend
using it in a production environment. If `--experimental-vm-modules` isn't
set, this callback will be ignored and calls to `import()` will reject with
[`ERR_VM_DYNAMIC_IMPORT_CALLBACK_MISSING_FLAG`][].
* `specifier` {string} specifier passed to `import()`
* `script` {vm.Script}
* `importAttributes` {Object} The `"with"` value passed to the
[`optionsExpression`][] optional parameter, or an empty object if no value
was provided.
* Returns: {Module Namespace Object|vm.Module} Returning a `vm.Module` is
recommended in order to take advantage of error tracking, and to avoid
issues with namespaces that contain `then` function exports.
If `options` is a string, then it specifies the filename.
Creating a new `vm.Script` object compiles `code` but does not run it. The
compiled `vm.Script` can be run later multiple times. The `code` is not bound to
any global object; rather, it is bound before each run, just for that run.
### `script.cachedDataRejected`
* {boolean|undefined}
When `cachedData` is supplied to create the `vm.Script`, this value will be set
to either `true` or `false` depending on acceptance of the data by V8.
Otherwise the value is `undefined`.
### `script.createCachedData()`
* Returns: {Buffer}
Creates a code cache that can be used with the `Script` constructor's
`cachedData` option. Returns a `Buffer`. This method may be called at any
time and any number of times.
The code cache of the `Script` doesn't contain any JavaScript observable
states. The code cache is safe to be saved along side the script source and
used to construct new `Script` instances multiple times.
Functions in the `Script` source can be marked as lazily compiled and they are
not compiled at construction of the `Script`. These functions are going to be
compiled when they are invoked the first time. The code cache serializes the
metadata that V8 currently knows about the `Script` that it can use to speed up
future compilations.
```js
const script = new vm.Script(`
function add(a, b) {
return a + b;
}
const x = add(1, 2);
`);
const cacheWithoutAdd = script.createCachedData();
// In `cacheWithoutAdd` the function `add()` is marked for full compilation
// upon invocation.
script.runInThisContext();
const cacheWithAdd = script.createCachedData();
// `cacheWithAdd` contains fully compiled function `add()`.
```
### `script.runInContext(contextifiedObject[, options])`
* `contextifiedObject` {Object} A [contextified][] object as returned by the
`vm.createContext()` method.
* `options` {Object}
* `displayErrors` {boolean} When `true`, if an [`Error`][] occurs
while compiling the `code`, the line of code causing the error is attached
to the stack trace. **Default:** `true`.
* `timeout` {integer} Specifies the number of milliseconds to execute `code`
before terminating execution. If execution is terminated, an [`Error`][]
will be thrown. This value must be a strictly positive integer.
* `breakOnSigint` {boolean} If `true`, receiving `SIGINT`
(Ctrl+C) will terminate execution and throw an
[`Error`][]. Existing handlers for the event that have been attached via
`process.on('SIGINT')` are disabled during script execution, but continue to
work after that. **Default:** `false`.
* Returns: {any} the result of the very last statement executed in the script.
Runs the compiled code contained by the `vm.Script` object within the given
`contextifiedObject` and returns the result. Running code does not have access
to local scope.
The following example compiles code that increments a global variable, sets
the value of another global variable, then execute the code multiple times.
The globals are contained in the `context` object.
```js
const vm = require('node:vm');
const context = {
animal: 'cat',
count: 2,
};
const script = new vm.Script('count += 1; name = "kitty";');
vm.createContext(context);
for (let i = 0; i < 10; ++i) {
script.runInContext(context);
}
console.log(context);
// Prints: { animal: 'cat', count: 12, name: 'kitty' }
```
Using the `timeout` or `breakOnSigint` options will result in new event loops
and corresponding threads being started, which have a non-zero performance
overhead.
### `script.runInNewContext([contextObject[, options]])`
* `contextObject` {Object} An object that will be [contextified][]. If
`undefined`, a new object will be created.
* `options` {Object}
* `displayErrors` {boolean} When `true`, if an [`Error`][] occurs
while compiling the `code`, the line of code causing the error is attached
to the stack trace. **Default:** `true`.
* `timeout` {integer} Specifies the number of milliseconds to execute `code`
before terminating execution. If execution is terminated, an [`Error`][]
will be thrown. This value must be a strictly positive integer.
* `breakOnSigint` {boolean} If `true`, receiving `SIGINT`
(Ctrl+C) will terminate execution and throw an
[`Error`][]. Existing handlers for the event that have been attached via
`process.on('SIGINT')` are disabled during script execution, but continue to
work after that. **Default:** `false`.
* `contextName` {string} Human-readable name of the newly created context.
**Default:** `'VM Context i'`, where `i` is an ascending numerical index of
the created context.
* `contextOrigin` {string} [Origin][origin] corresponding to the newly
created context for display purposes. The origin should be formatted like a
URL, but with only the scheme, host, and port (if necessary), like the
value of the [`url.origin`][] property of a [`URL`][] object. Most notably,
this string should omit the trailing slash, as that denotes a path.
**Default:** `''`.
* `contextCodeGeneration` {Object}
* `strings` {boolean} If set to false any calls to `eval` or function
constructors (`Function`, `GeneratorFunction`, etc) will throw an
`EvalError`. **Default:** `true`.
* `wasm` {boolean} If set to false any attempt to compile a WebAssembly
module will throw a `WebAssembly.CompileError`. **Default:** `true`.
* `microtaskMode` {string} If set to `afterEvaluate`, microtasks (tasks
scheduled through `Promise`s and `async function`s) will be run immediately
after the script has run. They are included in the `timeout` and
`breakOnSigint` scopes in that case.
* Returns: {any} the result of the very last statement executed in the script.
First contextifies the given `contextObject`, runs the compiled code contained
by the `vm.Script` object within the created context, and returns the result.
Running code does not have access to local scope.
The following example compiles code that sets a global variable, then executes
the code multiple times in different contexts. The globals are set on and
contained within each individual `context`.
```js
const vm = require('node:vm');
const script = new vm.Script('globalVar = "set"');
const contexts = [{}, {}, {}];
contexts.forEach((context) => {
script.runInNewContext(context);
});
console.log(contexts);
// Prints: [{ globalVar: 'set' }, { globalVar: 'set' }, { globalVar: 'set' }]
```
### `script.runInThisContext([options])`
* `options` {Object}
* `displayErrors` {boolean} When `true`, if an [`Error`][] occurs
while compiling the `code`, the line of code causing the error is attached
to the stack trace. **Default:** `true`.
* `timeout` {integer} Specifies the number of milliseconds to execute `code`
before terminating execution. If execution is terminated, an [`Error`][]
will be thrown. This value must be a strictly positive integer.
* `breakOnSigint` {boolean} If `true`, receiving `SIGINT`
(Ctrl+C) will terminate execution and throw an
[`Error`][]. Existing handlers for the event that have been attached via
`process.on('SIGINT')` are disabled during script execution, but continue to
work after that. **Default:** `false`.
* Returns: {any} the result of the very last statement executed in the script.
Runs the compiled code contained by the `vm.Script` within the context of the
current `global` object. Running code does not have access to local scope, but
_does_ have access to the current `global` object.
The following example compiles code that increments a `global` variable then
executes that code multiple times:
```js
const vm = require('node:vm');
global.globalVar = 0;
const script = new vm.Script('globalVar += 1', { filename: 'myfile.vm' });
for (let i = 0; i < 1000; ++i) {
script.runInThisContext();
}
console.log(globalVar);
// 1000
```
### `script.sourceMapURL`
* {string|undefined}
When the script is compiled from a source that contains a source map magic
comment, this property will be set to the URL of the source map.
```mjs
import vm from 'node:vm';
const script = new vm.Script(`
function myFunc() {}
//# sourceMappingURL=sourcemap.json
`);
console.log(script.sourceMapURL);
// Prints: sourcemap.json
```
```cjs
const vm = require('node:vm');
const script = new vm.Script(`
function myFunc() {}
//# sourceMappingURL=sourcemap.json
`);
console.log(script.sourceMapURL);
// Prints: sourcemap.json
```
## Class: `vm.Module`
> Stability: 1 - Experimental
This feature is only available with the `--experimental-vm-modules` command
flag enabled.
The `vm.Module` class provides a low-level interface for using
ECMAScript modules in VM contexts. It is the counterpart of the `vm.Script`
class that closely mirrors [Module Record][]s as defined in the ECMAScript
specification.
Unlike `vm.Script` however, every `vm.Module` object is bound to a context from
its creation. Operations on `vm.Module` objects are intrinsically asynchronous,
in contrast with the synchronous nature of `vm.Script` objects. The use of
'async' functions can help with manipulating `vm.Module` objects.
Using a `vm.Module` object requires three distinct steps: creation/parsing,
linking, and evaluation. These three steps are illustrated in the following
example.
This implementation lies at a lower level than the [ECMAScript Module
loader][]. There is also no way to interact with the Loader yet, though
support is planned.
```mjs
import vm from 'node:vm';
const contextifiedObject = vm.createContext({
secret: 42,
print: console.log,
});
// Step 1
//
// Create a Module by constructing a new `vm.SourceTextModule` object. This
// parses the provided source text, throwing a `SyntaxError` if anything goes
// wrong. By default, a Module is created in the top context. But here, we
// specify `contextifiedObject` as the context this Module belongs to.
//
// Here, we attempt to obtain the default export from the module "foo", and
// put it into local binding "secret".
const bar = new vm.SourceTextModule(`
import s from 'foo';
s;
print(s);
`, { context: contextifiedObject });
// Step 2
//
// "Link" the imported dependencies of this Module to it.
//
// The provided linking callback (the "linker") accepts two arguments: the
// parent module (`bar` in this case) and the string that is the specifier of
// the imported module. The callback is expected to return a Module that
// corresponds to the provided specifier, with certain requirements documented
// in `module.link()`.
//
// If linking has not started for the returned Module, the same linker
// callback will be called on the returned Module.
//
// Even top-level Modules without dependencies must be explicitly linked. The
// callback provided would never be called, however.
//
// The link() method returns a Promise that will be resolved when all the
// Promises returned by the linker resolve.
//
// Note: This is a contrived example in that the linker function creates a new
// "foo" module every time it is called. In a full-fledged module system, a
// cache would probably be used to avoid duplicated modules.
async function linker(specifier, referencingModule) {
if (specifier === 'foo') {
return new vm.SourceTextModule(`
// The "secret" variable refers to the global variable we added to
// "contextifiedObject" when creating the context.
export default secret;
`, { context: referencingModule.context });
// Using `contextifiedObject` instead of `referencingModule.context`
// here would work as well.
}
throw new Error(`Unable to resolve dependency: ${specifier}`);
}
await bar.link(linker);
// Step 3
//
// Evaluate the Module. The evaluate() method returns a promise which will
// resolve after the module has finished evaluating.
// Prints 42.
await bar.evaluate();
```
```cjs
const vm = require('node:vm');
const contextifiedObject = vm.createContext({
secret: 42,
print: console.log,
});
(async () => {
// Step 1
//
// Create a Module by constructing a new `vm.SourceTextModule` object. This
// parses the provided source text, throwing a `SyntaxError` if anything goes
// wrong. By default, a Module is created in the top context. But here, we
// specify `contextifiedObject` as the context this Module belongs to.
//
// Here, we attempt to obtain the default export from the module "foo", and
// put it into local binding "secret".
const bar = new vm.SourceTextModule(`
import s from 'foo';
s;
print(s);
`, { context: contextifiedObject });
// Step 2
//
// "Link" the imported dependencies of this Module to it.
//
// The provided linking callback (the "linker") accepts two arguments: the
// parent module (`bar` in this case) and the string that is the specifier of
// the imported module. The callback is expected to return a Module that
// corresponds to the provided specifier, with certain requirements documented
// in `module.link()`.
//
// If linking has not started for the returned Module, the same linker
// callback will be called on the returned Module.
//
// Even top-level Modules without dependencies must be explicitly linked. The
// callback provided would never be called, however.
//
// The link() method returns a Promise that will be resolved when all the
// Promises returned by the linker resolve.
//
// Note: This is a contrived example in that the linker function creates a new
// "foo" module every time it is called. In a full-fledged module system, a
// cache would probably be used to avoid duplicated modules.
async function linker(specifier, referencingModule) {
if (specifier === 'foo') {
return new vm.SourceTextModule(`
// The "secret" variable refers to the global variable we added to
// "contextifiedObject" when creating the context.
export default secret;
`, { context: referencingModule.context });
// Using `contextifiedObject` instead of `referencingModule.context`
// here would work as well.
}
throw new Error(`Unable to resolve dependency: ${specifier}`);
}
await bar.link(linker);
// Step 3
//
// Evaluate the Module. The evaluate() method returns a promise which will
// resolve after the module has finished evaluating.
// Prints 42.
await bar.evaluate();
})();
```
### `module.dependencySpecifiers`
* {string\[]}
The specifiers of all dependencies of this module. The returned array is frozen
to disallow any changes to it.
Corresponds to the `[[RequestedModules]]` field of [Cyclic Module Record][]s in
the ECMAScript specification.
### `module.error`
* {any}
If the `module.status` is `'errored'`, this property contains the exception
thrown by the module during evaluation. If the status is anything else,
accessing this property will result in a thrown exception.
The value `undefined` cannot be used for cases where there is not a thrown
exception due to possible ambiguity with `throw undefined;`.
Corresponds to the `[[EvaluationError]]` field of [Cyclic Module Record][]s
in the ECMAScript specification.
### `module.evaluate([options])`
* `options` {Object}
* `timeout` {integer} Specifies the number of milliseconds to evaluate
before terminating execution. If execution is interrupted, an [`Error`][]
will be thrown. This value must be a strictly positive integer.
* `breakOnSigint` {boolean} If `true`, receiving `SIGINT`
(Ctrl+C) will terminate execution and throw an
[`Error`][]. Existing handlers for the event that have been attached via
`process.on('SIGINT')` are disabled during script execution, but continue to
work after that. **Default:** `false`.
* Returns: {Promise} Fulfills with `undefined` upon success.
Evaluate the module.
This must be called after the module has been linked; otherwise it will reject.
It could be called also when the module has already been evaluated, in which
case it will either do nothing if the initial evaluation ended in success
(`module.status` is `'evaluated'`) or it will re-throw the exception that the
initial evaluation resulted in (`module.status` is `'errored'`).
This method cannot be called while the module is being evaluated
(`module.status` is `'evaluating'`).
Corresponds to the [Evaluate() concrete method][] field of [Cyclic Module
Record][]s in the ECMAScript specification.
### `module.identifier`
* {string}
The identifier of the current module, as set in the constructor.
### `module.link(linker)`
* `linker` {Function}
* `specifier` {string} The specifier of the requested module:
```mjs
import foo from 'foo';
// ^^^^^ the module specifier
```
* `referencingModule` {vm.Module} The `Module` object `link()` is called on.
* `extra` {Object}
* `attributes` {Object} The data from the attribute:
```mjs
import foo from 'foo' with { name: 'value' };
// ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ the attribute
```
Per ECMA-262, hosts are expected to trigger an error if an
unsupported attribute is present.
* `assert` {Object} Alias for `extra.attributes`.
* Returns: {vm.Module|Promise}
* Returns: {Promise}
Link module dependencies. This method must be called before evaluation, and
can only be called once per module.
The function is expected to return a `Module` object or a `Promise` that
eventually resolves to a `Module` object. The returned `Module` must satisfy the
following two invariants:
* It must belong to the same context as the parent `Module`.
* Its `status` must not be `'errored'`.
If the returned `Module`'s `status` is `'unlinked'`, this method will be
recursively called on the returned `Module` with the same provided `linker`
function.
`link()` returns a `Promise` that will either get resolved when all linking
instances resolve to a valid `Module`, or rejected if the linker function either
throws an exception or returns an invalid `Module`.
The linker function roughly corresponds to the implementation-defined
[HostResolveImportedModule][] abstract operation in the ECMAScript
specification, with a few key differences:
* The linker function is allowed to be asynchronous while
[HostResolveImportedModule][] is synchronous.
The actual [HostResolveImportedModule][] implementation used during module
linking is one that returns the modules linked during linking. Since at
that point all modules would have been fully linked already, the
[HostResolveImportedModule][] implementation is fully synchronous per
specification.
Corresponds to the [Link() concrete method][] field of [Cyclic Module
Record][]s in the ECMAScript specification.
### `module.namespace`
* {Object}
The namespace object of the module. This is only available after linking
(`module.link()`) has completed.
Corresponds to the [GetModuleNamespace][] abstract operation in the ECMAScript
specification.
### `module.status`
* {string}
The current status of the module. Will be one of:
* `'unlinked'`: `module.link()` has not yet been called.
* `'linking'`: `module.link()` has been called, but not all Promises returned
by the linker function have been resolved yet.
* `'linked'`: The module has been linked successfully, and all of its
dependencies are linked, but `module.evaluate()` has not yet been called.
* `'evaluating'`: The module is being evaluated through a `module.evaluate()` on
itself or a parent module.
* `'evaluated'`: The module has been successfully evaluated.
* `'errored'`: The module has been evaluated, but an exception was thrown.
Other than `'errored'`, this status string corresponds to the specification's
[Cyclic Module Record][]'s `[[Status]]` field. `'errored'` corresponds to
`'evaluated'` in the specification, but with `[[EvaluationError]]` set to a
value that is not `undefined`.
## Class: `vm.SourceTextModule`
> Stability: 1 - Experimental
This feature is only available with the `--experimental-vm-modules` command
flag enabled.
* Extends: {vm.Module}
The `vm.SourceTextModule` class provides the [Source Text Module Record][] as
defined in the ECMAScript specification.
### `new vm.SourceTextModule(code[, options])`
* `code` {string} JavaScript Module code to parse
* `options`
* `identifier` {string} String used in stack traces.
**Default:** `'vm:module(i)'` where `i` is a context-specific ascending
index.
* `cachedData` {Buffer|TypedArray|DataView} Provides an optional `Buffer` or
`TypedArray`, or `DataView` with V8's code cache data for the supplied
source. The `code` must be the same as the module from which this
`cachedData` was created.
* `context` {Object} The [contextified][] object as returned by the
`vm.createContext()` method, to compile and evaluate this `Module` in.
If no context is specified, the module is evaluated in the current
execution context.
* `lineOffset` {integer} Specifies the line number offset that is displayed
in stack traces produced by this `Module`. **Default:** `0`.
* `columnOffset` {integer} Specifies the first-line column number offset that
is displayed in stack traces produced by this `Module`. **Default:** `0`.
* `initializeImportMeta` {Function} Called during evaluation of this `Module`
to initialize the `import.meta`.
* `meta` {import.meta}
* `module` {vm.SourceTextModule}
* `importModuleDynamically` {Function} Called during evaluation of this module
when `import()` is called. If this option is not specified, calls to
`import()` will reject with [`ERR_VM_DYNAMIC_IMPORT_CALLBACK_MISSING`][].
If `--experimental-vm-modules` isn't set, this callback will be ignored
and calls to `import()` will reject with
[`ERR_VM_DYNAMIC_IMPORT_CALLBACK_MISSING_FLAG`][].
* `specifier` {string} specifier passed to `import()`
* `module` {vm.Module}
* `importAttributes` {Object} The `"assert"` value passed to the
[`optionsExpression`][] optional parameter, or an empty object if no value
was provided.
* Returns: {Module Namespace Object|vm.Module} Returning a `vm.Module` is
recommended in order to take advantage of error tracking, and to avoid
issues with namespaces that contain `then` function exports.
Creates a new `SourceTextModule` instance.
Properties assigned to the `import.meta` object that are objects may
allow the module to access information outside the specified `context`. Use
`vm.runInContext()` to create objects in a specific context.
```mjs
import vm from 'node:vm';
const contextifiedObject = vm.createContext({ secret: 42 });
const module = new vm.SourceTextModule(
'Object.getPrototypeOf(import.meta.prop).secret = secret;',
{
initializeImportMeta(meta) {
// Note: this object is created in the top context. As such,
// Object.getPrototypeOf(import.meta.prop) points to the
// Object.prototype in the top context rather than that in
// the contextified object.
meta.prop = {};
},
});
// Since module has no dependencies, the linker function will never be called.
await module.link(() => {});
await module.evaluate();
// Now, Object.prototype.secret will be equal to 42.
//
// To fix this problem, replace
// meta.prop = {};
// above with
// meta.prop = vm.runInContext('{}', contextifiedObject);
```
```cjs
const vm = require('node:vm');
const contextifiedObject = vm.createContext({ secret: 42 });
(async () => {
const module = new vm.SourceTextModule(
'Object.getPrototypeOf(import.meta.prop).secret = secret;',
{
initializeImportMeta(meta) {
// Note: this object is created in the top context. As such,
// Object.getPrototypeOf(import.meta.prop) points to the
// Object.prototype in the top context rather than that in
// the contextified object.
meta.prop = {};
},
});
// Since module has no dependencies, the linker function will never be called.
await module.link(() => {});
await module.evaluate();
// Now, Object.prototype.secret will be equal to 42.
//
// To fix this problem, replace
// meta.prop = {};
// above with
// meta.prop = vm.runInContext('{}', contextifiedObject);
})();
```
### `sourceTextModule.createCachedData()`
* Returns: {Buffer}
Creates a code cache that can be used with the `SourceTextModule` constructor's
`cachedData` option. Returns a `Buffer`. This method may be called any number
of times before the module has been evaluated.
The code cache of the `SourceTextModule` doesn't contain any JavaScript
observable states. The code cache is safe to be saved along side the script
source and used to construct new `SourceTextModule` instances multiple times.
Functions in the `SourceTextModule` source can be marked as lazily compiled
and they are not compiled at construction of the `SourceTextModule`. These
functions are going to be compiled when they are invoked the first time. The
code cache serializes the metadata that V8 currently knows about the
`SourceTextModule` that it can use to speed up future compilations.
```js
// Create an initial module
const module = new vm.SourceTextModule('const a = 1;');
// Create cached data from this module
const cachedData = module.createCachedData();
// Create a new module using the cached data. The code must be the same.
const module2 = new vm.SourceTextModule('const a = 1;', { cachedData });
```
## Class: `vm.SyntheticModule`
> Stability: 1 - Experimental
This feature is only available with the `--experimental-vm-modules` command
flag enabled.
* Extends: {vm.Module}
The `vm.SyntheticModule` class provides the [Synthetic Module Record][] as
defined in the WebIDL specification. The purpose of synthetic modules is to
provide a generic interface for exposing non-JavaScript sources to ECMAScript
module graphs.
```js
const vm = require('node:vm');
const source = '{ "a": 1 }';
const module = new vm.SyntheticModule(['default'], function() {
const obj = JSON.parse(source);
this.setExport('default', obj);
});
// Use `module` in linking...
```
### `new vm.SyntheticModule(exportNames, evaluateCallback[, options])`
* `exportNames` {string\[]} Array of names that will be exported from the
module.
* `evaluateCallback` {Function} Called when the module is evaluated.
* `options`
* `identifier` {string} String used in stack traces.
**Default:** `'vm:module(i)'` where `i` is a context-specific ascending
index.
* `context` {Object} The [contextified][] object as returned by the
`vm.createContext()` method, to compile and evaluate this `Module` in.
Creates a new `SyntheticModule` instance.
Objects assigned to the exports of this instance may allow importers of
the module to access information outside the specified `context`. Use
`vm.runInContext()` to create objects in a specific context.
### `syntheticModule.setExport(name, value)`
* `name` {string} Name of the export to set.
* `value` {any} The value to set the export to.
This method is used after the module is linked to set the values of exports. If
it is called before the module is linked, an [`ERR_VM_MODULE_STATUS`][] error
will be thrown.
```mjs
import vm from 'node:vm';
const m = new vm.SyntheticModule(['x'], () => {
m.setExport('x', 1);
});
await m.link(() => {});
await m.evaluate();
assert.strictEqual(m.namespace.x, 1);
```
```cjs
const vm = require('node:vm');
(async () => {
const m = new vm.SyntheticModule(['x'], () => {
m.setExport('x', 1);
});
await m.link(() => {});
await m.evaluate();
assert.strictEqual(m.namespace.x, 1);
})();
```
## `vm.compileFunction(code[, params[, options]])`
* `code` {string} The body of the function to compile.
* `params` {string\[]} An array of strings containing all parameters for the
function.
* `options` {Object}
* `filename` {string} Specifies the filename used in stack traces produced
by this script. **Default:** `''`.
* `lineOffset` {number} Specifies the line number offset that is displayed
in stack traces produced by this script. **Default:** `0`.
* `columnOffset` {number} Specifies the first-line column number offset that
is displayed in stack traces produced by this script. **Default:** `0`.
* `cachedData` {Buffer|TypedArray|DataView} Provides an optional `Buffer` or
`TypedArray`, or `DataView` with V8's code cache data for the supplied
source. This must be produced by a prior call to [`vm.compileFunction()`][]
with the same `code` and `params`.
* `produceCachedData` {boolean} Specifies whether to produce new cache data.
**Default:** `false`.
* `parsingContext` {Object} The [contextified][] object in which the said
function should be compiled in.
* `contextExtensions` {Object\[]} An array containing a collection of context
extensions (objects wrapping the current scope) to be applied while
compiling. **Default:** `[]`.
* `importModuleDynamically` {Function} Called during evaluation of this module
when `import()` is called. If this option is not specified, calls to
`import()` will reject with [`ERR_VM_DYNAMIC_IMPORT_CALLBACK_MISSING`][].
This option is part of the experimental modules API, and should not be
considered stable. If `--experimental-vm-modules` isn't
set, this callback will be ignored and calls to `import()` will reject with
[`ERR_VM_DYNAMIC_IMPORT_CALLBACK_MISSING_FLAG`][].
* `specifier` {string} specifier passed to `import()`
* `function` {Function}
* `importAttributes` {Object} The `"with"` value passed to the
[`optionsExpression`][] optional parameter, or an empty object if no value
was provided.
* Returns: {Module Namespace Object|vm.Module} Returning a `vm.Module` is
recommended in order to take advantage of error tracking, and to avoid
issues with namespaces that contain `then` function exports.
* Returns: {Function}
Compiles the given code into the provided context (if no context is
supplied, the current context is used), and returns it wrapped inside a
function with the given `params`.
## `vm.createContext([contextObject[, options]])`
* `contextObject` {Object}
* `options` {Object}
* `name` {string} Human-readable name of the newly created context.
**Default:** `'VM Context i'`, where `i` is an ascending numerical index of
the created context.
* `origin` {string} [Origin][origin] corresponding to the newly created
context for display purposes. The origin should be formatted like a URL,
but with only the scheme, host, and port (if necessary), like the value of
the [`url.origin`][] property of a [`URL`][] object. Most notably, this
string should omit the trailing slash, as that denotes a path.
**Default:** `''`.
* `codeGeneration` {Object}
* `strings` {boolean} If set to false any calls to `eval` or function
constructors (`Function`, `GeneratorFunction`, etc) will throw an
`EvalError`. **Default:** `true`.
* `wasm` {boolean} If set to false any attempt to compile a WebAssembly
module will throw a `WebAssembly.CompileError`. **Default:** `true`.
* `microtaskMode` {string} If set to `afterEvaluate`, microtasks (tasks
scheduled through `Promise`s and `async function`s) will be run immediately
after a script has run through [`script.runInContext()`][].
They are included in the `timeout` and `breakOnSigint` scopes in that case.
* Returns: {Object} contextified object.
If given a `contextObject`, the `vm.createContext()` method will [prepare
that object][contextified] so that it can be used in calls to
[`vm.runInContext()`][] or [`script.runInContext()`][]. Inside such scripts,
the `contextObject` will be the global object, retaining all of its existing
properties but also having the built-in objects and functions any standard
[global object][] has. Outside of scripts run by the vm module, global variables
will remain unchanged.
```js
const vm = require('node:vm');
global.globalVar = 3;
const context = { globalVar: 1 };
vm.createContext(context);
vm.runInContext('globalVar *= 2;', context);
console.log(context);
// Prints: { globalVar: 2 }
console.log(global.globalVar);
// Prints: 3
```
If `contextObject` is omitted (or passed explicitly as `undefined`), a new,
empty [contextified][] object will be returned.
The `vm.createContext()` method is primarily useful for creating a single
context that can be used to run multiple scripts. For instance, if emulating a
web browser, the method can be used to create a single context representing a
window's global object, then run all `