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Is @inquirer/type ESM-only? Can you require() it?

Inquirer core TS types

Last verified Sep 9, 2026 against @inquirer/type@4.1.1. Markdown · JSON

ESM-only ESM-only since 4.0.0 — last CommonJS version is 3.0.10

@inquirer/type dropped its CommonJS build in 4.0.0 (November 2025). The last version with a plain require()-able CommonJS entry is 3.0.10, published Nov 8, 2025; it declares support for Node.js >=18.

On Node.js 20.19+, 22.12+ and newer, require("@inquirer/type") works with the latest version: Node.js loads synchronous ES modules through require(). Verified on Node.js 20, 22, 24 and 26. Node.js 18 has no require(esm), and @inquirer/type@4.1.1 declares Node.js >=23.5.0 || ^22.13.0 || ^20.17.0, so 18 is outside its supported range anyway.

@inquirer/type@4.1.1 declares engines ">=23.5.0 || ^22.13.0 || ^20.17.0", so Node.js 18 is outside its supported range regardless of module format.

What to do

  1. On Node.js 20.19+, 22.12+ and newer, require("@inquirer/type") works with the latest version: Node.js loads synchronous ES modules through require(). Verified on Node.js 20, 22, 24 and 26.
  2. From a CommonJS file, use a dynamic import inside an async function: const type = await import("@inquirer/type"). That works on every Node.js version the package supports (>=23.5.0 || ^22.13.0 || ^20.17.0).
  3. If you need a synchronous require() or run Node.js 18: npm install @inquirer/type@3.0.10, the last CommonJS release (published Nov 8, 2025); it declares Node.js >=18.
  4. @inquirer/type@4.1.1 declares engines ">=23.5.0 || ^22.13.0 || ^20.17.0", so Node.js 18 is unsupported regardless: upgrade Node.js or pin an older release.
  5. TypeScript: types are bundled; install nothing extra.
Latest
4.1.1 (Sep 2, 2026)
Module format
ESM-only
Last CommonJS version
3.0.10
ESM-only since
4.0.0 (Nov 16, 2025)
TypeScript types
Bundled
Node engines
>=23.5.0 || ^22.13.0 || ^20.17.0
Weekly downloads
54.5M
License
MIT

Does @inquirer/type@4.1.1 actually load? Runtime test results

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

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

How to import @inquirer/type

ES modules (import)

import * as type from "@inquirer/type";

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

CommonJS (require)

// Node.js 20.19+, 22.12+ and newer (verified):
const type = require("@inquirer/type");

// Any Node.js version the package supports (>=23.5.0 || ^22.13.0 || ^20.17.0), from an async function:
async function main() {
  const type = await import("@inquirer/type");
}

// Or pin the last CommonJS release (declares Node.js >=18):
// npm install @inquirer/type@3.0.10

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 (50 versions; the newest 50 shown).

VersionsFormatFirst published
4.0.0 – 4.1.1ESM-onlyNov 16, 2025
0.1.0 – 3.0.10Dual (CommonJS + ESM)Mar 18, 2023

Frequently asked

Is @inquirer/type ESM-only?

@inquirer/type@4.1.1 is ESM-only. @inquirer/type dropped its CommonJS build in 4.0.0 (November 2025). The last version with a plain require()-able CommonJS entry is 3.0.10, published Nov 8, 2025; it declares support for Node.js >=18.

Which version of @inquirer/type still supports CommonJS / require()?

3.0.10 is the last version of @inquirer/type with a CommonJS build; it declares Node.js >=18. Install it with "npm install @inquirer/type@3.0.10". Every version from 4.0.0 on is ESM-only.

How do I use @inquirer/type from a CommonJS file?

From a CommonJS file, use a dynamic import inside an async function: const type = await import("@inquirer/type"). That works on every Node.js version the package supports (>=23.5.0 || ^22.13.0 || ^20.17.0). On Node.js 20.19+, 22.12+ and newer, require("@inquirer/type") works with the latest version: Node.js loads synchronous ES modules through require(). Verified on Node.js 20, 22, 24 and 26. Alternatively pin @inquirer/type@3.0.10 (declares Node.js >=18).

Does @inquirer/type work in Bun?

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

Does @inquirer/type ship TypeScript types?

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

Links

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