# Is babel-register ESM-only? Can you require() it?

> babel-register@6.26.0 is a CommonJS package. CommonJS — require() works on every Node.js version we test.

babel require hook

Last verified Sep 9, 2026 against babel-register@6.26.0.

babel-register ships CommonJS only. require("babel-register") works on every Node.js version we test (18, 20, 22, 24 and 26) and in Bun. import "babel-register" 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.

## What to do

1. require("babel-register") 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 babelRegister from "babel-register"; then destructure. Named imports only work when Node.js can statically detect the exports.
3. TypeScript: no types are available for babel-register; declare the module yourself if you need them.

## Facts

- Latest: 6.26.0 (Aug 16, 2017)
- Module format: CommonJS
- Last CommonJS version: 6.26.0
- TypeScript types: none
- Node engines: not declared
- Weekly downloads: 1.4M
- License: MIT

## Runtime test results for babel-register@6.26.0

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

| Runtime | require("babel-register") | import "babel-register" |
|---|---|---|
| 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 babel-register

ES modules:

```js
import babelRegister from "babel-register";
```

CommonJS:

```js
const babelRegister = require("babel-register");
```

## Module format by version

Derived from the type, main and exports fields of every stable release on npm (27 versions; the newest 27 shown).

| Versions | Format | First published |
|---|---|---|
| 6.1.4 – 6.26.0 | CommonJS | Nov 11, 2015 |

## Frequently asked

**Is babel-register ESM-only?**

babel-register@6.26.0 is a CommonJS package. babel-register ships CommonJS only. require("babel-register") works on every Node.js version we test (18, 20, 22, 24 and 26) and in Bun. import "babel-register" 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 babel-register with ES module syntax?**

Yes. import babelRegister from "babel-register" 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 babel-register work in Bun?**

Yes. import "babel-register" loaded successfully in Bun 1.4.0 on Sep 9, 2026.

**Does babel-register ship TypeScript types?**

No. babel-register ships no type declarations and there is no @types package for it.

## Links

- [babel-register on npm](https://www.npmjs.com/package/babel-register)
- [Source repository](https://github.com/babel/babel/tree/master/packages/babel-register)
- [HTML version](https://canirequire.com/package/babel-register/)
- [JSON version](https://canirequire.com/package/babel-register.json)

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