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Is binary-extensions ESM-only? Can you require() it?

List of binary file extensions

Last verified Sep 9, 2026 against binary-extensions@3.2.0. JSON

ESM-only ESM-only since 3.0.0 — last CommonJS version is 2.3.0

binary-extensions dropped its CommonJS build in 3.0.0 (April 2024). The last version you can require() on every Node.js version, including 18 and older, is 2.3.0, published Mar 14, 2024.

On Node.js 20.19+, 22.12+ and every newer release, require("binary-extensions") works anyway: Node can load synchronous ES modules through require(). Verified on Node 20, 22, 24, 26. Node.js 18 and older still fail with ERR_REQUIRE_ESM.

Latest
3.2.0 (Sep 9, 2026)
Module format
ESM-only
Last CommonJS version
2.3.0
ESM-only since
3.0.0 (Apr 30, 2024)
TypeScript types
Bundled
Node engines
>=18.20
Weekly downloads
82.0M
License
MIT

Does binary-extensions@3.2.0 actually load? Runtime test results

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

Runtimerequire("binary-extensions")import "binary-extensions"
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✓ works✓ works

How to import binary-extensions

ES modules (import)

import binaryExtensions from "binary-extensions";

CommonJS (require)

// Node.js 20.19+ / 22.12+ / newer (package has no top-level await):
const binaryExtensions = require("binary-extensions");

// Any Node.js version:
const binaryExtensions = await import("binary-extensions");

// Or pin the last CommonJS release:
// npm install binary-extensions@2.3.0

Module format by version

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

VersionsFormatFirst published
3.0.0 – 3.2.0ESM-onlyApr 30, 2024
1.0.0 – 2.3.0CommonJSJan 24, 2015

Frequently asked

Is binary-extensions ESM-only?

binary-extensions@3.2.0 is ESM-only. binary-extensions dropped its CommonJS build in 3.0.0 (April 2024). The last version you can require() on every Node.js version, including 18 and older, is 2.3.0, published Mar 14, 2024.

Which version of binary-extensions still supports CommonJS / require()?

2.3.0 is the last version of binary-extensions with a CommonJS build. Install it with "npm install binary-extensions@2.3.0". Every version from 3.0.0 on is ESM-only.

How do I use binary-extensions from a CommonJS file?

Use a dynamic import: const mod = await import("binary-extensions"). On Node.js 20.19+, 22.12+ and newer, a plain require("binary-extensions") also works for ESM packages that do not use top-level await. Alternatively pin binary-extensions@2.3.0.

Does binary-extensions work in Bun?

Yes. import "binary-extensions" loaded successfully in Bun 1.4 on Sep 9, 2026.

Does binary-extensions ship TypeScript types?

Yes. binary-extensions bundles its own type declarations; no @types package is needed.

Links

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