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

Regular expression for matching ANSI escape codes

Last verified Sep 9, 2026 against ansi-regex@6.3.0. Markdown · JSON

ESM-only ESM-only since 6.0.0 — last CommonJS version is 5.0.1

ansi-regex dropped its CommonJS build in 6.0.0 (April 2021). The last version with a plain require()-able CommonJS entry is 5.0.1, published Sep 14, 2021; it declares support for Node.js >=8.

On Node.js 20.19+, 22.12+ and newer, require("ansi-regex") 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-regex") fails with ERR_REQUIRE_ESM.

What to do

  1. On Node.js 20.19+, 22.12+ and newer, require("ansi-regex") 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 ansiRegex = await import("ansi-regex"). That works on every Node.js version the package supports (>=12).
  3. If you need a synchronous require() or run Node.js 18: npm install ansi-regex@5.0.1, the last CommonJS release (published Sep 14, 2021); it declares Node.js >=8.
  4. TypeScript: types are bundled; install nothing extra.
Latest
6.3.0 (Aug 12, 2026)
Module format
ESM-only
Last CommonJS version
5.0.1
ESM-only since
6.0.0 (Apr 16, 2021)
TypeScript types
Bundled
Node engines
>=12
Weekly downloads
345.3M
License
MIT

Does ansi-regex@6.3.0 actually load? Runtime test results

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

Runtimerequire("ansi-regex")import "ansi-regex"
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-regex

ES modules (import)

import * as ansiRegex from "ansi-regex";

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 ansiRegex = require("ansi-regex");

// Any Node.js version the package supports (>=12), from an async function:
async function main() {
  const ansiRegex = await import("ansi-regex");
}

// Or pin the last CommonJS release (declares Node.js >=8):
// npm install ansi-regex@5.0.1

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 (21 versions; the newest 21 shown).

VersionsFormatFirst published
6.0.0 – 6.3.0ESM-onlyApr 16, 2021
0.1.0 – 5.0.1CommonJSJun 3, 2014

Frequently asked

Is ansi-regex ESM-only?

ansi-regex@6.3.0 is ESM-only. ansi-regex dropped its CommonJS build in 6.0.0 (April 2021). The last version with a plain require()-able CommonJS entry is 5.0.1, published Sep 14, 2021; it declares support for Node.js >=8.

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

5.0.1 is the last version of ansi-regex with a CommonJS build; it declares Node.js >=8. Install it with "npm install ansi-regex@5.0.1". Every version from 6.0.0 on is ESM-only.

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

From a CommonJS file, use a dynamic import inside an async function: const ansiRegex = await import("ansi-regex"). That works on every Node.js version the package supports (>=12). On Node.js 20.19+, 22.12+ and newer, require("ansi-regex") 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-regex@5.0.1 (declares Node.js >=8).

Does ansi-regex work in Bun?

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

Does ansi-regex ship TypeScript types?

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

Links

Other esm-only packages

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