# Is @babel/compat-data ESM-only? Can you require() it?

> @babel/compat-data@8.0.0 is a CommonJS package, reachable only through subpaths. CommonJS, subpaths only — require("@babel/compat-data/…") works, require("@babel/compat-data") does not.

The compat-data to determine required Babel plugins

Last verified Sep 9, 2026 against @babel/compat-data@8.0.0.

@babel/compat-data exposes only subpaths in its exports map, for example "@babel/compat-data/plugins"; there is no root entry, so require("@babel/compat-data") and import "@babel/compat-data" both throw ERR_PACKAGE_PATH_NOT_EXPORTED. The subpaths are CommonJS: require("@babel/compat-data/plugins") works everywhere, and import "@babel/compat-data/plugins" works through Node's CommonJS interop.

## What to do

1. Load subpaths, never the bare name: const compatData = require("@babel/compat-data/plugins"). require("@babel/compat-data") throws ERR_PACKAGE_PATH_NOT_EXPORTED.
2. From ES modules use the default import: import compatData from "@babel/compat-data/plugins"; then destructure. Named imports only work when Node.js can statically detect the exports.
3. TypeScript: no types are available for @babel/compat-data; declare the module yourself if you need them.

## Facts

- Latest: 8.0.0 (Jun 16, 2026)
- Module format: CommonJS
- Last CommonJS version: 8.0.0
- TypeScript types: none
- Node engines: ^22.18.0 || >=24.11.0
- Weekly downloads: 125.1M
- License: MIT

## Runtime test results for @babel/compat-data@8.0.0

Installed and executed on Sep 9, 2026 with require("@babel/compat-data") from a CommonJS file and import "@babel/compat-data" from an ES module.

| Runtime | require("@babel/compat-data") | import "@babel/compat-data" |
|---|---|---|
| Node.js 18 | fails (ERR_PACKAGE_PATH_NOT_EXPORTED) | fails (ERR_PACKAGE_PATH_NOT_EXPORTED) |
| Node.js 20 | fails (ERR_PACKAGE_PATH_NOT_EXPORTED) | fails (ERR_PACKAGE_PATH_NOT_EXPORTED) |
| Node.js 22 | fails (ERR_PACKAGE_PATH_NOT_EXPORTED) | fails (ERR_PACKAGE_PATH_NOT_EXPORTED) |
| Node.js 24 | fails (ERR_PACKAGE_PATH_NOT_EXPORTED) | fails (ERR_PACKAGE_PATH_NOT_EXPORTED) |
| Node.js 26 | fails (ERR_PACKAGE_PATH_NOT_EXPORTED) | fails (ERR_PACKAGE_PATH_NOT_EXPORTED) |
| Bun 1.4.0 | fails (Error) | fails (Error) |

## How to import @babel/compat-data

ES modules:

```js
import compatData from "@babel/compat-data/plugins";
```

CommonJS:

```js
const compatData = require("@babel/compat-data/plugins");
```

## Module format by version

Derived from the type, main and exports fields of every stable release on npm (94 versions; the newest 60 shown).

| Versions | Format | First published |
|---|---|---|
| 7.17.0 – 8.0.0 | CommonJS | Feb 2, 2022 |

## Frequently asked

**Is @babel/compat-data ESM-only?**

@babel/compat-data@8.0.0 is a CommonJS package, reachable only through subpaths. @babel/compat-data exposes only subpaths in its exports map, for example "@babel/compat-data/plugins"; there is no root entry, so require("@babel/compat-data") and import "@babel/compat-data" both throw ERR_PACKAGE_PATH_NOT_EXPORTED. The subpaths are CommonJS: require("@babel/compat-data/plugins") works everywhere, and import "@babel/compat-data/plugins" works through Node's CommonJS interop.

**Can I require @babel/compat-data?**

Only by subpath. require("@babel/compat-data") throws ERR_PACKAGE_PATH_NOT_EXPORTED because the exports map has no root entry; require("@babel/compat-data/plugins") works.

**Can I import @babel/compat-data with ES module syntax?**

Yes. import compatData from "@babel/compat-data/plugins" works in Node.js and Bun because they support importing CommonJS modules. Named imports work only when Node.js can statically detect the exports.

**Does @babel/compat-data work in Bun?**

Importing @babel/compat-data failed in Bun 1.4.0 on Sep 9, 2026: error: Cannot find module '@babel/compat-data' from '/Users/boat/Projects/top-seo/data/probe-work/@babel__compat-data/imp.mjs'

**Does @babel/compat-data ship TypeScript types?**

No. @babel/compat-data ships no type declarations and there is no @types package for it.

## Links

- [@babel/compat-data on npm](https://www.npmjs.com/package/@babel/compat-data)
- [Source repository](https://github.com/babel/babel)
- [HTML version](https://canirequire.com/package/@babel/compat-data/)
- [JSON version](https://canirequire.com/package/@babel/compat-data.json)

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