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

> cacache@21.0.1 is a CommonJS package. CommonJS — require() works on every Node.js version we test.

Fast, fault-tolerant, cross-platform, disk-based, data-agnostic, content-addressable cache.

Last verified Sep 9, 2026 against cacache@21.0.1.

cacache ships CommonJS only. require("cacache") works on every Node.js version we test (18, 20, 22, 24 and 26) and in Bun. The package declares Node.js ^22.22.2 || ^24.15.0 || >=26.0.0. import "cacache" 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("cacache") works on every Node.js version we test (18, 20, 22, 24 and 26) and in Bun. The package declares Node.js ^22.22.2 || ^24.15.0 || >=26.0.0.
2. From ES modules use the default import: import cacache from "cacache"; then destructure. Named imports only work when Node.js can statically detect the exports.
3. TypeScript: npm install -D @types/cacache

## Facts

- Latest: 21.0.1 (Jun 9, 2026)
- Module format: CommonJS
- Last CommonJS version: 21.0.1
- TypeScript types: @types/cacache
- Node engines: ^22.22.2 || ^24.15.0 || >=26.0.0
- Weekly downloads: 35.1M
- License: ISC

## Runtime test results for cacache@21.0.1

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

| Runtime | require("cacache") | import "cacache" |
|---|---|---|
| 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 cacache

ES modules:

```js
import cacache from "cacache";
```

CommonJS:

```js
const cacache = require("cacache");
```

## Module format by version

Derived from the type, main and exports fields of every stable release on npm (110 versions; the newest 60 shown).

| Versions | Format | First published |
|---|---|---|
| 11.3.1 – 21.0.1 | CommonJS | Nov 5, 2018 |

## Frequently asked

**Is cacache ESM-only?**

cacache@21.0.1 is a CommonJS package. cacache ships CommonJS only. require("cacache") works on every Node.js version we test (18, 20, 22, 24 and 26) and in Bun. The package declares Node.js ^22.22.2 || ^24.15.0 || >=26.0.0. import "cacache" 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 cacache with ES module syntax?**

Yes. import cacache from "cacache" 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 cacache work in Bun?**

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

**Does cacache ship TypeScript types?**

Not bundled. Install the community types with "npm install -D @types/cacache".

## Links

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

---

For scripts and AI agents: any package is at https://canirequire.com/package/<name>/index.md (Markdown) or https://canirequire.com/package/<name>.json (JSON); the site index is https://canirequire.com/llms.txt. Fetch the URL directly; no search needed.