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Is @babel/plugin-external-helpers ESM-only? Can you require() it?

This plugin contains helper functions that’ll be placed at the top of the generated code

Last verified Sep 9, 2026 against @babel/plugin-external-helpers@8.0.1. JSON

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

@babel/plugin-external-helpers 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/plugin-external-helpers") 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/plugin-external-helpers@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/plugin-external-helpers@8.0.1 actually load? Runtime test results

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

Runtimerequire("@babel/plugin-external-helpers")import "@babel/plugin-external-helpers"
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/plugin-external-helpers

ES modules (import)

import pluginExternalHelpers from "@babel/plugin-external-helpers";

CommonJS (require)

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

// Any Node.js version:
const pluginExternalHelpers = await import("@babel/plugin-external-helpers");

// Or pin the last CommonJS release:
// npm install @babel/plugin-external-helpers@7.29.7

Module format by version

Derived from the type, main and exports fields of every stable release on npm (26 versions; the newest 26 shown).

VersionsFormatFirst published
8.0.0 – 8.0.1ESM-onlyJun 16, 2026
7.0.0 – 7.29.7CommonJSAug 27, 2018

Frequently asked

Is @babel/plugin-external-helpers ESM-only?

@babel/plugin-external-helpers@8.0.1 is ESM-only. @babel/plugin-external-helpers 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/plugin-external-helpers still supports CommonJS / require()?

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

How do I use @babel/plugin-external-helpers from a CommonJS file?

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

Does @babel/plugin-external-helpers work in Bun?

Yes. import "@babel/plugin-external-helpers" loaded successfully in Bun 1.4 on Sep 9, 2026.

Does @babel/plugin-external-helpers ship TypeScript types?

Yes. @babel/plugin-external-helpers bundles its own type declarations; no @types package is needed.

Links

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