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Is archiver ESM-only? Can you require() it?

a streaming interface for archive generation

Last verified Sep 9, 2026 against archiver@8.0.0. Markdown · JSON

ESM-only ESM-only since 8.0.0 — last CommonJS version is 7.0.1

archiver dropped its CommonJS build in 8.0.0 (May 2026). The last version with a plain require()-able CommonJS entry is 7.0.1, published Mar 10, 2024; it declares support for Node.js >= 14.

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

What to do

  1. On Node.js 20.19+, 22.12+ and newer, require("archiver") 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 archiver = await import("archiver"). 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 archiver@7.0.1, the last CommonJS release (published Mar 10, 2024); it declares Node.js >= 14.
  4. TypeScript: npm install -D @types/archiver
Latest
8.0.0 (May 8, 2026)
Module format
ESM-only
Last CommonJS version
7.0.1
ESM-only since
8.0.0 (May 8, 2026)
TypeScript types
@types/archiver
Node engines
>=18
Weekly downloads
36.8M
License
MIT

Does archiver@8.0.0 actually load? Runtime test results

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

Runtimerequire("archiver")import "archiver"
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 archiver

ES modules (import)

import * as archiver from "archiver";

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 archiver = require("archiver");

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

// Or pin the last CommonJS release (declares Node.js >= 14):
// npm install archiver@7.0.1

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 (80 versions; the newest 60 shown).

VersionsFormatFirst published
8.0.0ESM-onlyMay 8, 2026
0.6.0 – 7.0.1CommonJSFeb 15, 2014

Frequently asked

Is archiver ESM-only?

archiver@8.0.0 is ESM-only. archiver dropped its CommonJS build in 8.0.0 (May 2026). The last version with a plain require()-able CommonJS entry is 7.0.1, published Mar 10, 2024; it declares support for Node.js >= 14.

Which version of archiver still supports CommonJS / require()?

7.0.1 is the last version of archiver with a CommonJS build; it declares Node.js >= 14. Install it with "npm install archiver@7.0.1". Every version from 8.0.0 on is ESM-only.

How do I use archiver from a CommonJS file?

From a CommonJS file, use a dynamic import inside an async function: const archiver = await import("archiver"). That works on every Node.js version the package supports (>=18). On Node.js 20.19+, 22.12+ and newer, require("archiver") works with the latest version: Node.js loads synchronous ES modules through require(). Verified on Node.js 20, 22, 24 and 26. Alternatively pin archiver@7.0.1 (declares Node.js >= 14).

Does archiver work in Bun?

Yes. import "archiver" loaded successfully in Bun 1.4.0 on Sep 9, 2026.

Does archiver ship TypeScript types?

Not bundled. Install the community types with "npm install -D @types/archiver".

Links

Other esm-only packages

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