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Is @babel/core ESM-only? Can you require() it?

Babel compiler core.

Last verified Sep 9, 2026 against @babel/core@8.0.1. JSON

ESM-only ESM-only since 8.0.0 — last CommonJS version is 7.29.7

@babel/core dropped its CommonJS build in 8.0.0 (June 2026). The last version you can require() on every Node.js version, including 18 and older, is 7.29.7, published May 25, 2026.

On Node.js 20.19+, 22.12+ and every newer release, require("@babel/core") works anyway: Node can load synchronous ES modules through require(). Verified on Node 22, 24, 26. Node.js 18 and older still fail with ERR_REQUIRE_ESM.

@babel/core@8.0.1 declares engines "^22.18.0 || >=24.11.0", so Node.js 18, 20 are outside its supported range regardless of module format.

Latest
8.0.1 (Jun 17, 2026)
Module format
ESM-only
Last CommonJS version
7.29.7
ESM-only since
8.0.0 (Jun 16, 2026)
TypeScript types
Bundled
Node engines
^22.18.0 || >=24.11.0
License
MIT

Does @babel/core@8.0.1 actually load? Runtime test results

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

Runtimerequire("@babel/core")import "@babel/core"
Node.js 18✗ failsERR_REQUIRE_ESM✗ failsSyntaxError
Node.js 20✓ works✓ works
Node.js 22✓ works✓ works
Node.js 24✓ works✓ works
Node.js 26✓ works✓ works
Bun 1.4✓ works✓ works

How to import @babel/core

ES modules (import)

import core from "@babel/core";

CommonJS (require)

// Node.js 20.19+ / 22.12+ / newer (package has no top-level await):
const core = require("@babel/core");

// Any Node.js version:
const core = await import("@babel/core");

// Or pin the last CommonJS release:
// npm install @babel/core@7.29.7

Module format by version

Derived from the type, main and exports fields of every stable release on npm (161 versions; the newest 60 shown).

VersionsFormatFirst published
8.0.0 – 8.0.1ESM-onlyJun 16, 2026
7.20.7 – 7.29.7CommonJSDec 22, 2022

Frequently asked

Is @babel/core ESM-only?

@babel/core@8.0.1 is ESM-only. @babel/core dropped its CommonJS build in 8.0.0 (June 2026). The last version you can require() on every Node.js version, including 18 and older, is 7.29.7, published May 25, 2026.

Which version of @babel/core still supports CommonJS / require()?

7.29.7 is the last version of @babel/core with a CommonJS build. Install it with "npm install @babel/core@7.29.7". Every version from 8.0.0 on is ESM-only.

How do I use @babel/core from a CommonJS file?

Use a dynamic import: const mod = await import("@babel/core"). On Node.js 20.19+, 22.12+ and newer, a plain require("@babel/core") also works for ESM packages that do not use top-level await. Alternatively pin @babel/core@7.29.7.

Does @babel/core work in Bun?

Yes. import "@babel/core" loaded successfully in Bun 1.4 on Sep 9, 2026.

Does @babel/core ship TypeScript types?

Yes. @babel/core bundles its own type declarations; no @types package is needed.

Links

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