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

Terminal string styling done right

Last verified Sep 9, 2026 against chalk@6.0.0. JSON

ESM-only ESM-only since 5.0.0 — last CommonJS version is 4.1.2

chalk dropped its CommonJS build in 5.0.0 (November 2021). The last version you can require() on every Node.js version, including 18 and older, is 4.1.2, published Jul 30, 2021.

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

chalk@6.0.0 declares engines ">=22", so Node.js 18, 20 are outside its supported range regardless of module format.

Latest
6.0.0 (Jul 26, 2026)
Module format
ESM-only
Last CommonJS version
4.1.2
ESM-only since
5.0.0 (Nov 26, 2021)
TypeScript types
Bundled
Node engines
>=22
Weekly downloads
439.8M
License
MIT

Does chalk@6.0.0 actually load? Runtime test results

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

Runtimerequire("chalk")import "chalk"
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 chalk

ES modules (import)

import chalk from "chalk";

CommonJS (require)

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

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

// Or pin the last CommonJS release:
// npm install chalk@4.1.2

Module format by version

Derived from the type, main and exports fields of every stable release on npm (42 versions; the newest 42 shown).

VersionsFormatFirst published
5.0.0 – 6.0.0ESM-onlyNov 26, 2021
0.1.0 – 4.1.2CommonJSAug 3, 2013

Frequently asked

Is chalk ESM-only?

chalk@6.0.0 is ESM-only. chalk dropped its CommonJS build in 5.0.0 (November 2021). The last version you can require() on every Node.js version, including 18 and older, is 4.1.2, published Jul 30, 2021.

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

4.1.2 is the last version of chalk with a CommonJS build. Install it with "npm install chalk@4.1.2". Every version from 5.0.0 on is ESM-only.

How do I use chalk from a CommonJS file?

Use a dynamic import: const mod = await import("chalk"). On Node.js 20.19+, 22.12+ and newer, a plain require("chalk") also works for ESM packages that do not use top-level await. Alternatively pin chalk@4.1.2.

Does chalk work in Bun?

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

Does chalk ship TypeScript types?

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

Links

Other esm-only packages

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