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Is ansi-escapes ESM-only? Can you require() it?

ANSI escape codes for manipulating the terminal

Last verified Sep 9, 2026 against ansi-escapes@7.3.0. Markdown · JSON

ESM-only ESM-only since 5.0.0 — last CommonJS version is 4.3.2

ansi-escapes dropped its CommonJS build in 5.0.0 (April 2021). The last version with a plain require()-able CommonJS entry is 4.3.2, published Mar 24, 2021; it declares support for Node.js >=8.

On Node.js 20.19+, 22.12+ and newer, require("ansi-escapes") works with the latest version: Node.js loads synchronous ES modules through require(). Verified on Node.js 20, 22, 24 and 26. On Node.js 18, which has no require(esm), require("ansi-escapes") fails with ERR_REQUIRE_ESM.

What to do

  1. On Node.js 20.19+, 22.12+ and newer, require("ansi-escapes") 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 ansiEscapes = await import("ansi-escapes"). That works on every Node.js version the package supports (>=18).
  3. If you need a synchronous require() or run Node.js 18: npm install ansi-escapes@4.3.2, the last CommonJS release (published Mar 24, 2021); it declares Node.js >=8.
  4. TypeScript: types are bundled; install nothing extra.
Latest
7.3.0 (Feb 4, 2026)
Module format
ESM-only
Last CommonJS version
4.3.2
ESM-only since
5.0.0 (Apr 18, 2021)
TypeScript types
Bundled
Node engines
>=18
Weekly downloads
113.6M
License
MIT

Does ansi-escapes@7.3.0 actually load? Runtime test results

Installed and executed on Sep 9, 2026 with require("ansi-escapes") from a CommonJS file and import "ansi-escapes" from an ES module.

Runtimerequire("ansi-escapes")import "ansi-escapes"
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 ansi-escapes

ES modules (import)

import * as ansiEscapes from "ansi-escapes";

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 ansiEscapes = require("ansi-escapes");

// Any Node.js version the package supports (>=18), from an async function:
async function main() {
  const ansiEscapes = await import("ansi-escapes");
}

// Or pin the last CommonJS release (declares Node.js >=8):
// npm install ansi-escapes@4.3.2

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 (28 versions; the newest 28 shown).

VersionsFormatFirst published
5.0.0 – 7.3.0ESM-onlyApr 18, 2021
1.0.0 – 4.3.2CommonJSAug 14, 2015

Frequently asked

Is ansi-escapes ESM-only?

ansi-escapes@7.3.0 is ESM-only. ansi-escapes dropped its CommonJS build in 5.0.0 (April 2021). The last version with a plain require()-able CommonJS entry is 4.3.2, published Mar 24, 2021; it declares support for Node.js >=8.

Which version of ansi-escapes still supports CommonJS / require()?

4.3.2 is the last version of ansi-escapes with a CommonJS build; it declares Node.js >=8. Install it with "npm install ansi-escapes@4.3.2". Every version from 5.0.0 on is ESM-only.

How do I use ansi-escapes from a CommonJS file?

From a CommonJS file, use a dynamic import inside an async function: const ansiEscapes = await import("ansi-escapes"). That works on every Node.js version the package supports (>=18). On Node.js 20.19+, 22.12+ and newer, require("ansi-escapes") works with the latest version: Node.js loads synchronous ES modules through require(). Verified on Node.js 20, 22, 24 and 26. Alternatively pin ansi-escapes@4.3.2 (declares Node.js >=8).

Does ansi-escapes work in Bun?

Yes. import "ansi-escapes" loaded successfully in Bun 1.4.0 on Sep 9, 2026.

Does ansi-escapes ship TypeScript types?

Yes. ansi-escapes bundles its own type declarations; no @types package is needed.

Links

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