canirequire

canirequireESM-only › bl

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

Buffer List: collect buffers and access with a standard readable Buffer interface, streamable too

Last verified Sep 9, 2026 against bl@7.0.12. JSON

ESM-only ESM-only since 7.0.0 — last CommonJS version is 6.1.6

bl dropped its CommonJS build in 7.0.0 (April 2026). The last version you can require() on every Node.js version, including 18 and older, is 6.1.6, published Dec 4, 2025.

require("bl") failed in our probe on Node.js 20+ as well. See the runtime matrix below for the exact error.

bl@7.0.12 declares engines ">=20", so Node.js 18 is outside its supported range regardless of module format.

Latest
7.0.12 (Jul 30, 2026)
Module format
ESM-only
Last CommonJS version
6.1.6
ESM-only since
7.0.0 (Apr 14, 2026)
TypeScript types
Bundled
Node engines
>=20
Weekly downloads
72.5M
License
MIT

Does bl@7.0.12 actually load? Runtime test results

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

Runtimerequire("bl")import "bl"
Node.js 18✗ failsERR_PACKAGE_PATH_NOT_EXPORTED✓ works
Node.js 20✗ failsERR_PACKAGE_PATH_NOT_EXPORTED✓ works
Node.js 22✗ failsERR_PACKAGE_PATH_NOT_EXPORTED✓ works
Node.js 24✗ failsERR_PACKAGE_PATH_NOT_EXPORTED✓ works
Node.js 26✗ failsERR_PACKAGE_PATH_NOT_EXPORTED✓ works
Bun 1.4✗ failserror: Cannot find package 'bl' from '/Users/boat/Projects/top-seo/data/probe-work/bl/req.cjs'✓ works

How to import bl

ES modules (import)

import bl from "bl";

CommonJS (require)

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

// Any Node.js version:
const bl = await import("bl");

// Or pin the last CommonJS release:
// npm install bl@6.1.6

Module format by version

Derived from the type, main and exports fields of every stable release on npm (88 versions; the newest 60 shown).

VersionsFormatFirst published
7.0.0 – 7.0.12ESM-onlyApr 14, 2026
1.2.2 – 6.1.6CommonJSMar 21, 2018

Frequently asked

Is bl ESM-only?

bl@7.0.12 is ESM-only. bl dropped its CommonJS build in 7.0.0 (April 2026). The last version you can require() on every Node.js version, including 18 and older, is 6.1.6, published Dec 4, 2025.

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

6.1.6 is the last version of bl with a CommonJS build. Install it with "npm install bl@6.1.6". Every version from 7.0.0 on is ESM-only.

How do I use bl from a CommonJS file?

Use a dynamic import: const mod = await import("bl"). On Node.js 20.19+, 22.12+ and newer, a plain require("bl") also works for ESM packages that do not use top-level await. Alternatively pin bl@6.1.6.

Does bl work in Bun?

Yes. import "bl" loaded successfully in Bun 1.4 on Sep 9, 2026.

Does bl ship TypeScript types?

Yes. bl bundles its own type declarations; no @types package is needed.

Links

Other esm-only packages

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