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

babel require hook

Last verified Sep 9, 2026 against @babel/register@8.0.1. Markdown · JSON

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

@babel/register dropped its CommonJS build in 8.0.0 (June 2026). The last version with a plain require()-able CommonJS entry is 7.29.7, published May 25, 2026; it declares support for Node.js >=6.9.0.

On Node.js 22.12+ and newer (@babel/register@8.0.1 declares Node.js ^22.18.0 || >=24.11.0), require("@babel/register") works with the latest version: Node.js loads synchronous ES modules through require(). Verified on Node.js 22, 24 and 26. Node.js 18 has no require(esm), and @babel/register@8.0.1 declares Node.js ^22.18.0 || >=24.11.0, so 18 is outside its supported range anyway.

@babel/register@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.

What to do

  1. On Node.js 22.12+ and newer (@babel/register@8.0.1 declares Node.js ^22.18.0 || >=24.11.0), require("@babel/register") works with the latest version: Node.js loads synchronous ES modules through require(). Verified on Node.js 22, 24 and 26.
  2. From a CommonJS file, use a dynamic import inside an async function: const register = await import("@babel/register"). That works on every Node.js version the package supports (^22.18.0 || >=24.11.0).
  3. If you need a synchronous require() or run Node.js 18: npm install @babel/register@7.29.7, the last CommonJS release (published May 25, 2026); it declares Node.js >=6.9.0.
  4. @babel/register@8.0.1 declares engines "^22.18.0 || >=24.11.0", so Node.js 18, 20 are unsupported regardless: upgrade Node.js or pin an older release.
  5. TypeScript: types are bundled; install nothing extra.
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
Weekly downloads
6.7M
License
MIT

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

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

Runtimerequire("@babel/register")import "@babel/register"
Node.js 18✗ failsERR_REQUIRE_ESM✗ failsTIMEOUT
Node.js 20✓ works✗ failsTIMEOUT
Node.js 22✓ works✗ failsTIMEOUT
Node.js 24✓ works✗ failsTIMEOUT
Node.js 26✓ works✗ failsTIMEOUT
Bun 1.4.0✓ works✓ works

How to import @babel/register

ES modules (import)

import * as register from "@babel/register";

Namespace import shown because the ESM entry may have no default export; use named imports for what it exports.

CommonJS (require)

// Node.js 22.12+ and newer (verified):
const register = require("@babel/register");

// Any Node.js version the package supports (^22.18.0 || >=24.11.0), from an async function:
async function main() {
  const register = await import("@babel/register");
}

// Or pin the last CommonJS release (declares Node.js >=6.9.0):
// npm install @babel/register@7.29.7

Module format by version

Derived from the type, main and exports fields of every stable release on npm, corrected where a runtime test of that version contradicted them (51 versions; the newest 51 shown).

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

Frequently asked

Is @babel/register ESM-only?

@babel/register@8.0.1 is ESM-only. @babel/register dropped its CommonJS build in 8.0.0 (June 2026). The last version with a plain require()-able CommonJS entry is 7.29.7, published May 25, 2026; it declares support for Node.js >=6.9.0.

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

7.29.7 is the last version of @babel/register with a CommonJS build; it declares Node.js >=6.9.0. Install it with "npm install @babel/register@7.29.7". Every version from 8.0.0 on is ESM-only.

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

From a CommonJS file, use a dynamic import inside an async function: const register = await import("@babel/register"). That works on every Node.js version the package supports (^22.18.0 || >=24.11.0). On Node.js 22.12+ and newer (@babel/register@8.0.1 declares Node.js ^22.18.0 || >=24.11.0), require("@babel/register") works with the latest version: Node.js loads synchronous ES modules through require(). Verified on Node.js 22, 24 and 26. Alternatively pin @babel/register@7.29.7 (declares Node.js >=6.9.0).

Does @babel/register work in Bun?

Yes. import "@babel/register" loaded successfully in Bun 1.4.0 on Sep 9, 2026.

Does @babel/register ship TypeScript types?

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

Links

Other esm-only packages

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