Uncaught SyntaxError: Unexpected token < on each js file that invoked in the index html

Question

I am using mean stack to build a website, when testing, chrome returns the error like:

Uncaught SyntaxError: Unexpected token < angular.js:1.

I don't know what's wrong and what should i do.

Here is the directory of my app: E-study -client -app -components -all the libraries are here. -index.html -controllers.js -node_modules -server -config -server.js

And I run the server in E-study like :node server/config/server.js

The scripts in the index.html is<script src="client/components/angular/angular.js"></script>

Just don't know why all the js files are changed to index.html when open in the browser.

Well it means that those files aren't valid JS, but likely HTML instead. Maybe an error message. Fix your server. — Bergi, Dec 08 '16 at 04:56
yeah, all the JS file has been changed to index html when open in the browser, don't know why. — vivian, Dec 08 '16 at 05:37

sanjeevprasad · Accepted Answer · 2016-12-08T05:54:58.670

8

open up those library files and see if there are some extra symbol < probably you will find it in the beginning.. if still not able to fix... simply download the fresh library (if those are libraries) from the internet and try again.

make sure that you don't put <script> </script> tags in the included .js files. that is an incorrect syntax for script files.

also make sure you are providing the correct path??? providing incorrect path can return a builtin customized error page. which is html. may be that is the source of error because returned page is HTML which is most likely going to start with a < symbol. and offcourse not a js file.

to ensure that the incorrect path is the issue just copy the path you included in the code and and paste into your favorite browsers url bar and hit enter. if you are not getting the script in plain text.. then it means you are not providing the correct path.

and if it is return a customized error page like .. 404 not found then probably it is returning the html and this is where the error is coming from.

edited Dec 08 '16 at 05:54

answered Dec 08 '16 at 05:12

sanjeevprasad

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I have downloaded all the library again but still the same problem. – vivian Dec 08 '16 at 05:37
did you opened up the library and saw anything inside it??? and could you provide the link from where you downloaded that js library!!! – sanjeevprasad Dec 08 '16 at 05:39
are you providing the correct path??? providing incorrect path can return a builtin customized error page. which is html. may be that is the source of error – sanjeevprasad Dec 08 '16 at 05:54
then instead of using – sanjeevprasad Dec 08 '16 at 06:42
the index file is in folder client, it is in the same level of components. – vivian Dec 08 '16 at 07:40
then instead of using or use – sanjeevprasad Dec 08 '16 at 08:01
under which server you are running the html??? or running directly via providing path – sanjeevprasad Dec 08 '16 at 08:25
I am using express server, at port 8080, all the js files are downloaded through npm in terminal. – vivian Dec 08 '16 at 09:51
what path you are putting in the addressbar.. to access that index.html – sanjeevprasad Dec 08 '16 at 10:11
and rewrite the app.use（express.static(...)） – vivian Dec 08 '16 at 10:52
@ Sanjeev Prasad Thakur I have another problem, can you help me to solve it? http://stackoverflow.com/questions/41440099/mean-angular-ui-router-doesnt-load-states/41440173?noredirect=1#comment70086612_41440173 – vivian Jan 03 '17 at 09:37
@vivian can you send an example if your code? I'm having the same issue – colouredFunk Jan 09 '18 at 04:50

score 1 · Answer 2 · answered Mar 31 '17 at 16:47

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In external js files, which you refer in some other files, don't use <script>..</script> tag.

answered Mar 31 '17 at 16:47

ketankk

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score 0 · Answer 3 · answered Jun 01 '18 at 05:40

0

For express server try to set the static path to entire project folder.It worked for me

app.use(express.static(__dirname ));

answered Jun 01 '18 at 05:40

jan basha

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OG Sean · Answer 4 · 2022-11-23T00:15:15.480

Could be a ReCaptcha bot checker type thing intercepting requests for JS files and serving up an HTML page instead, which is invalid HTML so it throws the < is invalid message error.

I know siteground specifically has issues with this intercepting CDN routed traffic.

Check with the host to remove this issue, in this case it's their anti-bot security setup. This has remedied these issues with Siteground for me.

Uncaught SyntaxError: Unexpected token < on each js file that invoked in the index html

4 Answers4