diff --git a/backend/config/db.js b/backend/config/db.js
index f8d8cb2..68ef845 100644
--- a/backend/config/db.js
+++ b/backend/config/db.js
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-const mongoose = require("mongoose");
+import mongoose from "mongoose";
 
 const connectDB = async () => {
   try {
@@ -22,5 +22,5 @@ const connectDB = async () => {
   }
 };
 
-module.exports = connectDB;
+export default connectDB;
 
diff --git a/backend/controllers/authController.js b/backend/controllers/authController.js
index 0cb85df..fdfd3be 100644
--- a/backend/controllers/authController.js
+++ b/backend/controllers/authController.js
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-const User = require("../models/User")
+import User from "../models/User.js";
 
 const registerUser = async(req,res) => {
     try {
@@ -33,4 +33,4 @@ const registerUser = async(req,res) => {
     }
 }
 
-module.exports = {registerUser}
\ No newline at end of file
+export { registerUser };
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/backend/middleware/authentication.js b/backend/middleware/authentication.js
index 6bc1815..aec466f 100644
--- a/backend/middleware/authentication.js
+++ b/backend/middleware/authentication.js
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-const { verifyToken } = require("@clerk/clerk-sdk-node");
+import { verifyToken } from "@clerk/clerk-sdk-node";
 
 async function authMiddleware(req, res, next) {
   try {
@@ -17,4 +17,4 @@ async function authMiddleware(req, res, next) {
   }
 }
 
-module.exports = authMiddleware;
+export default authMiddleware;
diff --git a/backend/models/Event.js b/backend/models/Event.js
index 4761e75..51704ef 100644
--- a/backend/models/Event.js
+++ b/backend/models/Event.js
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-const mongoose = require('mongoose');
+import mongoose from 'mongoose';
 
 const EventSchema = new mongoose.Schema({
   name: {
@@ -31,4 +31,4 @@ const EventSchema = new mongoose.Schema({
 
 EventSchema.index({ locationCenter: '2dsphere' });
 
-module.exports = mongoose.model('Event', EventSchema);
+export default mongoose.model('Event', EventSchema);
diff --git a/backend/models/Photo.js b/backend/models/Photo.js
index dd9e330..7f31cd8 100644
--- a/backend/models/Photo.js
+++ b/backend/models/Photo.js
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-const mongoose = require('mongoose');
+import mongoose from 'mongoose';
 
 const PhotoSchema = new mongoose.Schema({
   userId: {
@@ -38,4 +38,4 @@ const PhotoSchema = new mongoose.Schema({
 
 PhotoSchema.index({ location: '2dsphere' });
 
-module.exports = mongoose.model('Photo', PhotoSchema);
+export default mongoose.model('Photo', PhotoSchema);
diff --git a/backend/models/User.js b/backend/models/User.js
index 4192648..2e1cce4 100644
--- a/backend/models/User.js
+++ b/backend/models/User.js
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-const mongoose = require('mongoose');
+import mongoose from 'mongoose';
 
 const UserSchema = new mongoose.Schema({
   clerkUserId: {
@@ -48,4 +48,4 @@ const UserSchema = new mongoose.Schema({
   }
 });
 
-module.exports = mongoose.model('User', UserSchema);
+export default mongoose.model('User', UserSchema);
diff --git a/backend/package.json b/backend/package.json
index 87f9696..c2f2cb3 100644
--- a/backend/package.json
+++ b/backend/package.json
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
   "version": "1.0.0",
   "description": "Backend for Snap Map application",
   "main": "server.js",
+  "type": "module",
   "scripts": {
     "start": "node server.js",
     "dev": "nodemon server.js"
diff --git a/backend/routes/auth.js b/backend/routes/auth.js
index c86cf29..4adbd7f 100644
--- a/backend/routes/auth.js
+++ b/backend/routes/auth.js
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
-const express = require("express");
-const authMiddleware = require("../middleware/authentication");
-const {registerUser} = require("../controllers/authController")
+import express from "express";
+import authMiddleware from "../middleware/authentication.js";
+import { registerUser } from "../controllers/authController.js";
 const router = express.Router();
 
 router.post("/login", (req, res) => {
@@ -9,4 +9,4 @@ router.post("/login", (req, res) => {
 
 router.post("/signup", authMiddleware, registerUser);
 
-module.exports = router;
+export default router;
diff --git a/backend/routes/health.js b/backend/routes/health.js
index 4ff74d4..53af288 100644
--- a/backend/routes/health.js
+++ b/backend/routes/health.js
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-const express = require("express");
+import express from "express";
 const router = express.Router();
 
 
@@ -6,4 +6,4 @@ router.get("/", (req, res) => {
   res.json({ status: "ok" });
 });
 
-module.exports = router;
\ No newline at end of file
+export default router;
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/backend/server.js b/backend/server.js
index 7dd9e09..28344b1 100644
--- a/backend/server.js
+++ b/backend/server.js
@@ -1,15 +1,15 @@
-const express = require("express");
-const dotenv = require("dotenv");
+import express from "express";
+import dotenv from "dotenv";
 dotenv.config();
 
 //-----db connection--------
-const connectDB = require("./config/db");
+import connectDB from "./config/db.js";
 connectDB();
 //------------------------------------------------------------
 const app = express();
 app.use(express.json());
 
-const router = require("../backend/v1")
+import router from "./v1.js";
 
 app.use("/api/v1", router);
 
diff --git a/backend/v1.js b/backend/v1.js
index 9568a93..56ee504 100644
--- a/backend/v1.js
+++ b/backend/v1.js
@@ -1,12 +1,12 @@
-const express = require("express");
+import express from "express";
 
 const router = express.Router();
-const healthRoute = require("../backend/routes/health");
-const authRoute = require ("../backend/routes/auth");
+import healthRoute from "./routes/health.js";
+import authRoute from "./routes/auth.js";
 router.use("/health", healthRoute);
 router.use("/auth", authRoute);
 router.get("/", (req, res) => {
     res.send("SnapMap API v1");
 });
 
-module.exports = router;
\ No newline at end of file
+export default router;
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/package-lock.json b/package-lock.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..507194c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/package-lock.json
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+{
+  "name": "SnapMap",
+  "lockfileVersion": 3,
+  "requires": true,
+  "packages": {}
+}