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

Node.js Buffer API, for the browser

Last verified Sep 9, 2026 against buffer@6.0.3. Markdown · JSON

CommonJS CommonJS — require() works on every Node.js version we test

buffer ships CommonJS only. require("buffer") works on every Node.js version we test (18, 20, 22, 24 and 26) and in Bun. import "buffer" 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("buffer") 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 buffer from "buffer"; then destructure. Named imports only work when Node.js can statically detect the exports.
  3. TypeScript: types are bundled; install nothing extra.
Latest
6.0.3 (Nov 23, 2020)
Module format
CommonJS
Last CommonJS version
6.0.3
TypeScript types
Bundled
Node engines
not declared
Weekly downloads
149.2M
License
MIT

Does buffer@6.0.3 actually load? Runtime test results

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

Runtimerequire("buffer")import "buffer"
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 buffer

ES modules (import)

import buffer from "buffer";

Named imports from a CommonJS package only work when Node.js can statically detect them. If a named import fails, use the default import and destructure.

CommonJS (require)

const buffer = require("buffer");

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 (96 versions; the newest 60 shown).

VersionsFormatFirst published
3.1.2 – 6.0.3CommonJSMar 20, 2015

Frequently asked

Is buffer ESM-only?

buffer@6.0.3 is a CommonJS package. buffer ships CommonJS only. require("buffer") works on every Node.js version we test (18, 20, 22, 24 and 26) and in Bun. import "buffer" 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 buffer with ES module syntax?

Yes. import buffer from "buffer" 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 buffer work in Bun?

Yes. import "buffer" loaded successfully in Bun 1.4.0 on Sep 9, 2026.

Does buffer ship TypeScript types?

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

Links

Other commonjs packages

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