How to use express js with dotenv and ES6 modules

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I'm assuming you are using nodejs with a version later than 13.
First, you will need to change your package.json to:

{
  "name": "api",
  "version": "1.0.0",
  "type": "module", 
  ...
}

(The type is the important part).

Now you can freely use imports, here is an express start with dotenv

import dotenv  from "dotenv"
import express from "express"

dotenv.config()

const app = express()
const port = process.env.PORT || 5000

app.get('/', (req, res) => {
  res.send('Hello World!')
})

app.listen(port, () => {
  console.log(`Example app listening at http://localhost:${port}`)
})

Notes:
Having dotenv gives you the ability to add environment variables into .env files and use them easily in your express (in this case) app.