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

Higher-order functions and common patterns for asynchronous code

Last verified Sep 9, 2026 against async@3.2.6. Markdown · JSON

CommonJS CommonJS — require() works on every Node.js version we test

async ships CommonJS only. require("async") works on every Node.js version we test (18, 20, 22, 24 and 26) and in Bun. import "async" also works because Node.js and Bun can import CommonJS from ES modules, but only the default export is guaranteed; named imports depend on Node's static analysis of the module.

It also declares a "module" field, so bundlers such as webpack, Vite and esbuild pick up an ESM build for tree-shaking.

What to do

  1. require("async") works on every Node.js version we test (18, 20, 22, 24 and 26) and in Bun.
  2. From ES modules use the default import: import async from "async"; then destructure. Named imports only work when Node.js can statically detect the exports.
  3. TypeScript: npm install -D @types/async
Latest
3.2.6 (Aug 19, 2024)
Module format
CommonJS
Last CommonJS version
3.2.6
TypeScript types
@types/async
Node engines
not declared
Weekly downloads
92.8M
License
MIT

Does async@3.2.6 actually load? Runtime test results

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

Runtimerequire("async")import "async"
Node.js 18✓ works✓ 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 async

ES modules (import)

import async from "async";

Named imports from a CommonJS package only work when Node.js can statically detect them. If a named import fails, use the default import and destructure.

CommonJS (require)

const async = require("async");

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 (85 versions; the newest 60 shown).

VersionsFormatFirst published
0.2.2 – 3.2.6CommonJSFeb 5, 2013

Frequently asked

Is async ESM-only?

async@3.2.6 is a CommonJS package. async ships CommonJS only. require("async") works on every Node.js version we test (18, 20, 22, 24 and 26) and in Bun. import "async" also works because Node.js and Bun can import CommonJS from ES modules, but only the default export is guaranteed; named imports depend on Node's static analysis of the module.

Can I import async with ES module syntax?

Yes. import async from "async" 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 async work in Bun?

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

Does async ship TypeScript types?

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

Links

Other commonjs packages

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