Check if a node.js module is available

Question

Check if a node.js module is available

I'm looking for a way to find out if a module is available.

For example, I want to check if the module mongodb is available, programmatically.

Also, it shouldn't halt the program if a module isn't found, I want to handle this myself.

_{PS: I added this question because Google isn't helpful.}

javascript
node.js

Answer 1

Here is the most clever way I found to do this. If anyone has a better way to do so, please point it out.

var mongodb;
try {
    mongodb = require( 'mongodb' );
}
catch( e ) {
    if ( e.code === 'MODULE_NOT_FOUND' ) {
        // The module hasn't been found
    }
}