TypeScript Compile Options: module vs target

Question

Trying to have some basic understanding about module and target.

I would like to know the difference between module and target compile options in a typical tsconfig.json

{
    "compilerOptions": {
        "module": "es6",
        "sourceMap": true,
        "target": "es6"
    }
}

What happens if I provide the following options:

module: commonjs, target: es6

module: es6, target: commonjs

module: commonjs, target: commonjs

Target can not be commonjs. It can only be: 'es3' (default), 'es5', or 'es6'. Have you read the Compiler Options doc ? — Nitzan Tomer
An important correction to Paleo's answer: Documentation actually says that >>"ES6" and "ES2015" values may be used when targeting "ES5" or lower.<< — Peti29
Possible duplicate of Understanding "target" and "module" in tsconfig — Paleo

Paleo Paleo · Accepted Answer · 2016-09-14T14:32:30

A more detailed explanation is here : Understanding "target" and "module" in tsconfig

See also: Understanding "target" and "module" in tsconfig.

Here is a quote from the documentation on compiler options:

--target

Specify ECMAScript target version: 'es3' (default), 'es5', or 'es6'.

--module

Specify module code generation: 'none', 'commonjs', 'amd', 'system', 'umd', 'es6', or 'es2015'.

Only 'amd' and 'system' can be used in conjunction with --outFile.

'es6' and 'es2015' values may be used when targeting ES5 or lower.

TypeScript Compile Options: module vs target

3 Answers