# Is @storybook/addon-knobs ESM-only? Can you require() it?

> @storybook/addon-knobs@8.0.1 declares a CommonJS entry, but require() fails at runtime. CommonJS on paper — require() failed in our runtime test.

Storybook addon for editing props

Last verified Sep 9, 2026 against @storybook/addon-knobs@8.0.1.

@storybook/addon-knobs declares a CommonJS entry only, but require("@storybook/addon-knobs") failed on every Node.js version in our probe: Cannot find module '@storybook/preview-api'. import "@storybook/addon-knobs" resolves to the same file, so it fails the same way. That usually means a missing peer dependency, a browser-only global, or a package that is not meant to be loaded directly; see the runtime table below.

## What to do

1. require("@storybook/addon-knobs") failed in our probe on every Node.js version (Cannot find module '@storybook/preview-api'); check the package README for peer dependencies or setup before relying on it.
2. From ES modules use the default import: import addonKnobs from "@storybook/addon-knobs"; then destructure. Named imports only work when Node.js can statically detect the exports.
3. TypeScript: types are bundled; install nothing extra.

## Facts

- Latest: 8.0.1 (Jun 19, 2024)
- Module format: CommonJS
- Last CommonJS version: 8.0.1
- TypeScript types: bundled
- Node engines: not declared
- Weekly downloads: 599K
- License: MIT

## Runtime test results for @storybook/addon-knobs@8.0.1

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

| Runtime | require("@storybook/addon-knobs") | import "@storybook/addon-knobs" |
|---|---|---|
| Node.js 18 | fails (MODULE_NOT_FOUND) | fails (MODULE_NOT_FOUND) |
| Node.js 20 | fails (MODULE_NOT_FOUND) | fails (MODULE_NOT_FOUND) |
| Node.js 22 | fails (MODULE_NOT_FOUND) | fails (MODULE_NOT_FOUND) |
| Node.js 24 | fails (MODULE_NOT_FOUND) | fails (MODULE_NOT_FOUND) |
| Node.js 26 | fails (MODULE_NOT_FOUND) | fails (MODULE_NOT_FOUND) |
| Bun 1.4.0 | fails (Error) | fails (Error) |

## How to import @storybook/addon-knobs

ES modules:

```js
import addonKnobs from "@storybook/addon-knobs";
```

CommonJS:

```js
// require("@storybook/addon-knobs") failed in our probe on every Node.js version we test (Cannot find module '@storybook/preview-api'); see the runtime table.
const addonKnobs = require("@storybook/addon-knobs");
```

## Module format by version

Derived from the type, main and exports fields of every stable release on npm (197 versions; the newest 60 shown).

| Versions | Format | First published |
|---|---|---|
| 6.0.10 – 8.0.1 | CommonJS | Aug 15, 2020 |

## Frequently asked

**Is @storybook/addon-knobs ESM-only?**

@storybook/addon-knobs@8.0.1 declares a CommonJS entry, but require() fails at runtime. @storybook/addon-knobs declares a CommonJS entry only, but require("@storybook/addon-knobs") failed on every Node.js version in our probe: Cannot find module '@storybook/preview-api'. import "@storybook/addon-knobs" resolves to the same file, so it fails the same way. That usually means a missing peer dependency, a browser-only global, or a package that is not meant to be loaded directly; see the runtime table below.

**Can I require @storybook/addon-knobs?**

Not in practice. @storybook/addon-knobs declares a CommonJS entry, but require("@storybook/addon-knobs") failed on every Node.js version in our probe: Cannot find module '@storybook/preview-api'. Check the package README for peer dependencies or setup before relying on it.

**Can I import @storybook/addon-knobs with ES module syntax?**

Yes. import addonKnobs from "@storybook/addon-knobs" works in Node.js and Bun because they support importing CommonJS modules. Named imports work only when Node.js can statically detect the exports.

**Does @storybook/addon-knobs work in Bun?**

Importing @storybook/addon-knobs failed in Bun 1.4.0 on Sep 9, 2026: error: Cannot find module '@storybook/preview-api' from '/Users/boat/Projects/top-seo/data/probe-work/@storybook__addon-knobs/node_modules/@storybook/addon-knobs/dist/index.js'

**Does @storybook/addon-knobs ship TypeScript types?**

Yes. @storybook/addon-knobs bundles its own type declarations; no @types package is needed.

## Links

- [@storybook/addon-knobs on npm](https://www.npmjs.com/package/@storybook/addon-knobs)
- [Source repository](https://github.com/storybookjs/addon-knobs)
- [HTML version](https://canirequire.com/package/@storybook/addon-knobs/)
- [JSON version](https://canirequire.com/package/@storybook/addon-knobs.json)

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