doc: clarify that some modules don't work when compiled without ssl

PR-URL: #42198
Reviewed-By: Rich Trott <[email protected]>
Reviewed-By: Richard Lau <[email protected]>
Reviewed-By: Mestery <[email protected]>
Reviewed-By: Darshan Sen <[email protected]>
Reviewed-By: Matteo Collina <[email protected]>

doc/api/http2.md

@@ -28,6 +28,41 @@ can be accessed using:
 const http2 = require('http2');
 ```
 
+## Determining if crypto support is unavailable
+
+It is possible for Node.js to be built without including support for the
+`crypto` module. In such cases, attempting to `import` from `http2` or
+calling `require('http2')` will result in an error being thrown.
+
+When using CommonJS, the error thrown can be caught using try/catch:
+
+```cjs
+let http2;
+try {
+  http2 = require('http2');
+} catch (err) {
+  console.log('http2 support is disabled!');
+}
+```
+
+When using the lexical ESM `import` keyword, the error can only be
+caught if a handler for `process.on('uncaughtException')` is registered
+_before_ any attempt to load the module is made (using, for instance,
+a preload module).
+
+When using ESM, if there is a chance that the code may be run on a build
+of Node.js where crypto support is not enabled, consider using the
+`import()` function instead of the lexical `import` keyword:
+
+```mjs
+let http2;
+try {
+  http2 = await import('http2');
+} catch (err) {
+  console.log('http2 support is disabled!');
+}
+```
+
 ## Core API
 
 The Core API provides a low-level interface designed specifically around

doc/api/https.md

@@ -9,6 +9,43 @@
 HTTPS is the HTTP protocol over TLS/SSL. In Node.js this is implemented as a
 separate module.
 
+## Determining if crypto support is unavailable
+
+It is possible for Node.js to be built without including support for the
+`crypto` module. In such cases, attempting to `import` from `https` or
+calling `require('https')` will result in an error being thrown.
+
+When using CommonJS, the error thrown can be caught using try/catch:
+
+<!-- eslint-skip -->
+
+```cjs
+let https;
+try {
+  https = require('https');
+} catch (err) {
+  console.log('https support is disabled!');
+}
+```
+
+When using the lexical ESM `import` keyword, the error can only be
+caught if a handler for `process.on('uncaughtException')` is registered
+_before_ any attempt to load the module is made (using, for instance,
+a preload module).
+
+When using ESM, if there is a chance that the code may be run on a build
+of Node.js where crypto support is not enabled, consider using the
+`import()` function instead of the lexical `import` keyword:
+
+```mjs
+let https;
+try {
+  https = await import('https');
+} catch (err) {
+  console.log('https support is disabled!');
+}
+```
+
 ## Class: `https.Agent`
 
 <!-- YAML

doc/api/tls.md

@@ -14,6 +14,43 @@ The module can be accessed using:
 const tls = require('tls');
 ```
 
+## Determining if crypto support is unavailable
+
+It is possible for Node.js to be built without including support for the
+`crypto` module. In such cases, attempting to `import` from `tls` or
+calling `require('tls')` will result in an error being thrown.
+
+When using CommonJS, the error thrown can be caught using try/catch:
+
+<!-- eslint-skip -->
+
+```cjs
+let tls;
+try {
+  tls = require('tls');
+} catch (err) {
+  console.log('tls support is disabled!');
+}
+```
+
+When using the lexical ESM `import` keyword, the error can only be
+caught if a handler for `process.on('uncaughtException')` is registered
+_before_ any attempt to load the module is made (using, for instance,
+a preload module).
+
+When using ESM, if there is a chance that the code may be run on a build
+of Node.js where crypto support is not enabled, consider using the
+`import()` function instead of the lexical `import` keyword:
+
+```mjs
+let tls;
+try {
+  tls = await import('tls');
+} catch (err) {
+  console.log('tls support is disabled!');
+}
+```
+
 ## TLS/SSL concepts
 
 TLS/SSL is a set of protocols that rely on a public key infrastructure (PKI) to