# Is balanced-match ESM-only? Can you require() it?

> balanced-match@4.0.4 ships CommonJS and ESM builds. Dual package — require() works on every Node.js version we test; import works too.

Match balanced character pairs, like "{" and "}"

Last verified Sep 9, 2026 against balanced-match@4.0.4.

balanced-match publishes both a CommonJS entry and a native ESM entry (ESM added in 3.0.0). require("balanced-match") works on every Node.js version we test (18, 20, 22, 24 and 26) and in Bun. The package declares Node.js 18 || 20 || >=22. import "balanced-match" works alongside it.

## What to do

1. Nothing to change. require("balanced-match") works on every Node.js version we test (18, 20, 22, 24 and 26) and in Bun. The package declares Node.js 18 || 20 || >=22. import * as balancedMatch from "balanced-match" works alongside it; use named imports for what the ESM entry exports.
2. TypeScript: types are bundled; install nothing extra.

## Facts

- Latest: 4.0.4 (Feb 22, 2026)
- Module format: Dual (CommonJS + ESM)
- Last CommonJS version: 4.0.4
- Native ESM since: 3.0.0
- TypeScript types: bundled
- Node engines: 18 || 20 || >=22
- Weekly downloads: 272.7M
- License: MIT

## Runtime test results for balanced-match@4.0.4

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

| Runtime | require("balanced-match") | import "balanced-match" |
|---|---|---|
| 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 balanced-match

ES modules:

```js
import * as balancedMatch from "balanced-match";
```

Namespace import shown because the ESM entry may have no default export; use named imports for what it exports.

CommonJS:

```js
const balancedMatch = require("balanced-match");
```

## Module format by version

Derived from the type, main and exports fields of every stable release on npm (18 versions; the newest 18 shown).

| Versions | Format | First published |
|---|---|---|
| 4.0.2 – 4.0.4 | Dual (CommonJS + ESM) | Feb 9, 2026 |
| 3.0.0 – 3.0.1 | ESM-only | Oct 5, 2023 |
| 0.0.0 – 2.0.0 | CommonJS | Oct 13, 2013 |

## Frequently asked

**Is balanced-match ESM-only?**

balanced-match@4.0.4 ships CommonJS and ESM builds. balanced-match publishes both a CommonJS entry and a native ESM entry (ESM added in 3.0.0). require("balanced-match") works on every Node.js version we test (18, 20, 22, 24 and 26) and in Bun. The package declares Node.js 18 || 20 || >=22. import "balanced-match" works alongside it.

**Can I require balanced-match?**

Yes. balanced-match ships a CommonJS entry alongside the native ESM entry. require("balanced-match") works on every Node.js version we test (18, 20, 22, 24 and 26) and in Bun. The package declares Node.js 18 || 20 || >=22.

**Does balanced-match work in Bun?**

Yes. import "balanced-match" loaded successfully in Bun 1.4.0 on Sep 9, 2026.

**Does balanced-match ship TypeScript types?**

Yes. balanced-match bundles its own type declarations; no @types package is needed.

## Links

- [balanced-match on npm](https://www.npmjs.com/package/balanced-match)
- [Source repository](https://github.com/juliangruber/balanced-match)
- [HTML version](https://canirequire.com/package/balanced-match/)
- [JSON version](https://canirequire.com/package/balanced-match.json)

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