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

The Babel Traverse module maintains the overall tree state, and is responsible for replacing, removing, and adding nodes

Last verified Sep 9, 2026 against @babel/traverse@8.0.4. JSON

ESM-only ESM-only since 8.0.0 — last CommonJS version is 7.29.8

@babel/traverse 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 7.29.8, published Jul 31, 2026.

On Node.js 20.19+, 22.12+ and every newer release, require("@babel/traverse") 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/traverse@8.0.4 declares engines "^22.18.0 || >=24.11.0", so Node.js 18, 20 are outside its supported range regardless of module format.

Latest
8.0.4 (Jul 9, 2026)
Module format
ESM-only
Last CommonJS version
7.29.8
ESM-only since
8.0.0 (Jun 16, 2026)
TypeScript types
Bundled
Node engines
^22.18.0 || >=24.11.0
License
MIT

Does @babel/traverse@8.0.4 actually load? Runtime test results

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

Runtimerequire("@babel/traverse")import "@babel/traverse"
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/traverse

ES modules (import)

import traverse from "@babel/traverse";

CommonJS (require)

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

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

// Or pin the last CommonJS release:
// npm install @babel/traverse@7.29.8

Module format by version

Derived from the type, main and exports fields of every stable release on npm (153 versions; the newest 60 shown).

VersionsFormatFirst published
8.0.0 – 8.0.4ESM-onlyJun 16, 2026
7.21.4 – 7.29.8CommonJSMar 31, 2023

Frequently asked

Is @babel/traverse ESM-only?

@babel/traverse@8.0.4 is ESM-only. @babel/traverse 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 7.29.8, published Jul 31, 2026.

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

7.29.8 is the last version of @babel/traverse with a CommonJS build. Install it with "npm install @babel/traverse@7.29.8". Every version from 8.0.0 on is ESM-only.

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

Use a dynamic import: const mod = await import("@babel/traverse"). On Node.js 20.19+, 22.12+ and newer, a plain require("@babel/traverse") also works for ESM packages that do not use top-level await. Alternatively pin @babel/traverse@7.29.8.

Does @babel/traverse work in Bun?

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

Does @babel/traverse ship TypeScript types?

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

Links

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