# Uncaught SyntaxError: Unexpected token '\<'

**URL:** <https://forum.freecodecamp.org/t/uncaught-syntaxerror-unexpected-token/538574>\
**Category:** Curriculum Help\
**Tags:** javascript\
**Created:** [August 4, 2022, 8:43am UTC](https://forum.freecodecamp.org/t/uncaught-syntaxerror-unexpected-token/538574 "2022-08-04T08:43:49Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![adithyads4a](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/freecodecamp/user_avatar/forum.freecodecamp.org/adithyads4a/32/256397_2.png) [@adithyads4a](https://forum.freecodecamp.org/u/adithyads4a)\
**Post date:** [August 4, 2022, 8:43am UTC](https://forum.freecodecamp.org/t/uncaught-syntaxerror-unexpected-token/538574/1 "2022-08-04T08:43:49Z")

</div>

[https://codepen.io/sourdragon/pen/qBoopGm](https://codepen.io/sourdragon/pen/qBoopGm)

I am getting the same error no matter how much i try. Been stuck at this for almost a hour. Please help

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![kevinSmith](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/freecodecamp/user_avatar/forum.freecodecamp.org/kevinsmith/32/72934_2.png) [@kevinSmith](https://forum.freecodecamp.org/u/kevinSmith)\
**Post date:** [August 4, 2022, 8:50am UTC](https://forum.freecodecamp.org/t/uncaught-syntaxerror-unexpected-token/538574/2 "2022-08-04T08:50:38Z")

</div>

JS is trying to parse the JSX and it can’t because JSX is not valid JS. We write it as JSX (because it is much easier to read than the JS equivalent) and then use a program called Babel to convert it to valid JS. This happens invisibly for us behind the scenes.

On Codepen, go to `Settings -> JS -> JavaScript Preprocessor` and select “Babel”. Now (without you having to do anything) the JSX will be converted to valid JS before it runs. You won’t be able to see it happening, it just happens.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![kevinSmith](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/freecodecamp/user_avatar/forum.freecodecamp.org/kevinsmith/32/72934_2.png) [@kevinSmith](https://forum.freecodecamp.org/u/kevinSmith)\
**Post date:** [August 4, 2022, 8:54am UTC](https://forum.freecodecamp.org/t/uncaught-syntaxerror-unexpected-token/538574/3 "2022-08-04T08:54:30Z")

</div>

After that, you have a few errors to clear up.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![kevinSmith](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/freecodecamp/user_avatar/forum.freecodecamp.org/kevinsmith/32/72934_2.png) [@kevinSmith](https://forum.freecodecamp.org/u/kevinSmith)\
**Post date:** [August 4, 2022, 9:03am UTC](https://forum.freecodecamp.org/t/uncaught-syntaxerror-unexpected-token/538574/4 "2022-08-04T09:03:41Z")

</div>

Some things to consider:

```auto
React.component

```

Is that the right name for that property?

* * *

```auto
ReactDOM.render(myReactElement, ...

```

What is that component name? And why isn’t it in brackets.

* * *

Also, you import your react libraries in the Codepen settings, but then do it again in the HTML pane. This isn’t breaking your code but is the wrong way. Just do them once. Codepen would prefer the former.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![adithyads4a](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/freecodecamp/user_avatar/forum.freecodecamp.org/adithyads4a/32/256397_2.png) [@adithyads4a](https://forum.freecodecamp.org/u/adithyads4a)\
**Post date:** [August 4, 2022, 9:45am UTC](https://forum.freecodecamp.org/t/uncaught-syntaxerror-unexpected-token/538574/5 "2022-08-04T09:45:33Z")

</div>

Thanks for the comments. I got it working now. Thank you so much.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/freecodecamp/original/3X/e/1/e1c433102e34b46dfaa3e15d13ab9a514b127078.svg) [@system](https://forum.freecodecamp.org/u/system)\
**Post date:** [February 2, 2023, 9:45pm UTC](https://forum.freecodecamp.org/t/uncaught-syntaxerror-unexpected-token/538574/6 "2023-02-02T21:45:40Z")

</div>

Closed on February 2, 2023, 9:45pm UTC

This topic was automatically closed 182 days after the last reply. New replies are no longer allowed.