---
title: "unicorn/prefer-import-meta-properties"
description: "Require `import.meta.dirname` and `import.meta.filename` instead of building them from the URL"
# Generated by src/codegen/lint-rule-docs.ts. Do not edit below this line.
plugin: "unicorn"
aliases: []
kind: "suggestion"
category: "pedantic"
default: "off"
fixable: "yes"
typeAware: false
deprecated: false
---

ES modules don't have `__dirname` or `__filename`, so a lot of code rebuilds them from `import.meta.url` with `fileURLToPath()` and `path.dirname()`. `import.meta.filename` and `import.meta.dirname` hold the same strings, with no imports.

`--fix` replaces the call with the property. It doesn't remove imports that are no longer used.

{/* Generated by src/codegen/lint-rule-docs.ts. Do not edit this section. */}

## Configure

Off by default. To turn it on:

```toml bunfig.toml
[lint.rules]
"unicorn/prefer-import-meta-properties" = "error" # or "warn"
```

{/* End of the generated section. */}

## Examples

Reported:

{/* bad {"count": 2} */}
```js
import path from "node:path";
import { fileURLToPath } from "node:url";

const filename = fileURLToPath(import.meta.url);
const dirname = path.dirname(filename);
```

{/* bad */}
```js
import { fileURLToPath } from "node:url";

const dirname = fileURLToPath(new URL(".", import.meta.url));
```

Not reported:

{/* good */}
```js
const filename = import.meta.filename;
const dirname = import.meta.dirname;
```

Other paths built from the URL are fine:

{/* good */}
```js
import { fileURLToPath } from "node:url";

const fixtures = fileURLToPath(new URL("./fixtures", import.meta.url));
```

## When not to use it

Bun has both properties, and Node.js has had them since 20.11. Turn the rule off for code that needs to run on an older Node.js.