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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. Markdown · 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 with a plain require()-able CommonJS entry is 6.1.6, published Dec 4, 2025.

require("bl") failed in our probe on Node.js 20+ as well; see the runtime table for the error before relying on it. Node.js 18 has no require(esm), and bl@7.0.12 declares Node.js >=20, so 18 is outside its supported range anyway.

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

What to do

  1. require("bl") failed in our probe on Node.js 20+ as well; see the runtime table for the error before relying on it.
  2. From a CommonJS file, use a dynamic import inside an async function: const bl = await import("bl"). That works on every Node.js version the package supports (>=20).
  3. If you need a synchronous require() or run Node.js 18: npm install bl@6.1.6, the last CommonJS release (published Dec 4, 2025).
  4. bl@7.0.12 declares engines ">=20", so Node.js 18 is unsupported regardless: upgrade Node.js or pin an older release.
  5. TypeScript: types are bundled; install nothing extra.
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 1.4.0✗ failsError✓ works

How to import bl

ES modules (import)

import * as bl from "bl";

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

CommonJS (require)

// require("bl") failed in our probe on Node.js 20.19+, 22.12+ and newer as well (ERR_PACKAGE_PATH_NOT_EXPORTED); see the runtime table.

// Any Node.js version the package supports (>=20), from an async function:
async function main() {
  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, corrected where a runtime test of that version contradicted them (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 with a plain require()-able CommonJS entry 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?

From a CommonJS file, use a dynamic import inside an async function: const bl = await import("bl"). That works on every Node.js version the package supports (>=20). require("bl") failed in our probe on Node.js 20+ as well; see the runtime table for the error before relying on it. Alternatively pin bl@6.1.6.

Does bl work in Bun?

Yes. import "bl" loaded successfully in Bun 1.4.0 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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