How to make Cursor use modern JavaScript syntax

To make Cursor use modern JavaScript syntax, you don’t actually “enable” it inside Cursor itself. Cursor uses whatever JavaScript version your project is configured for. So the real work is making sure your local environment, your Node version, and your project configs (like package.json, .babelrc, or tsconfig.json if using TypeScript) tell the editor and language server that you want modern JS. Once those are set, Cursor automatically understands and suggests modern syntax because it reads the project config just like VS Code does.

 

Why Cursor Sometimes Suggests Older Syntax

 

Cursor doesn’t decide the JS version on its own. It looks at:

• Your installed Node.js version
• Your project’s package.json “type” field
• Your Babel config if you're using Babel
• Your ESLint config if you're using ESLint

If these indicate older syntax, Cursor plays it safe and sticks to older patterns. If they indicate modern syntax (ES Modules, async/await, arrow functions, optional chaining…), Cursor follows that modern style.

 

Step-by-Step: Make Cursor Use Modern JavaScript Syntax

 

Below is the actual, real way to force Cursor to behave like a modern JS project.

• Use a modern Node.js version locally
  Cursor relies on your local tools. Check your Node version:

node -v

• If it's old (like Node 12/14), update to Node 18 or 20. Cursor recognizes modern language features only if your environment supports them.

• Tell Node you’re using modern ES Modules
  Add this to your package.json:

{
  "type": "module"
}

• This enables modern import/export syntax without Babel.

• Enable modern syntax rules in ESLint (optional but helpful)
  If you’re using ESLint, confirm your config allows ES2020+ features:

{
  "env": {
    "es2021": true,
    "node": true
  }
}

• Cursor’s autocomplete reads this and becomes more confident about using async/await, classes, arrow functions, and optional chaining.

• If using Babel, set your preset to @babel/preset-env
  A basic working .babelrc that enables modern syntax:

{
  "presets": ["@babel/preset-env"]
}

• This tells Cursor you’re not restricted to old ES5 code.

• Make sure your files use .js or .mjs extensions
  .mjs automatically signals ES Modules to Node.

• Provide examples inside the project
  Cursor learns from your project. If you use modern syntax in some files, Cursor starts suggesting it everywhere.

 

Examples of Modern JavaScript Syntax Cursor Will Then Suggest

 

import express from "express" // modern ESM import

const app = express()

app.get("/api", async (req, res) => {
  const data = await fetch("https://example.com").then(r => r.json()) // async/await
  res.send({ message: data?.title }) // optional chaining
})

 

The Core Idea

 

Cursor is not the gatekeeper — your project configuration is. Once your environment and config files tell the language server “Yes, this project uses modern JS,” Cursor fully switches to suggesting and generating modern syntax automatically.