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

Minimal and efficient cross-platform file watching library

Last verified Sep 9, 2026 against chokidar@5.0.0. Markdown · JSON

ESM-only ESM-only since 5.0.0 — last CommonJS version is 4.0.3

chokidar dropped its CommonJS build in 5.0.0 (November 2025). The last version with a plain require()-able CommonJS entry is 4.0.3, published Dec 18, 2024; it declares support for Node.js >= 14.16.0.

On Node.js 20.19+, 22.12+ and newer, require("chokidar") works with the latest version: Node.js loads synchronous ES modules through require(). Verified on Node.js 20, 22, 24 and 26. Node.js 18 has no require(esm), and chokidar@5.0.0 declares Node.js >= 20.19.0, so 18 is outside its supported range anyway.

chokidar@5.0.0 declares engines ">= 20.19.0", so Node.js 18 is outside its supported range regardless of module format.

What to do

  1. On Node.js 20.19+, 22.12+ and newer, require("chokidar") works with the latest version: Node.js loads synchronous ES modules through require(). Verified on Node.js 20, 22, 24 and 26.
  2. From a CommonJS file, use a dynamic import inside an async function: const chokidar = await import("chokidar"). That works on every Node.js version the package supports (>= 20.19.0).
  3. If you need a synchronous require() or run Node.js 18: npm install chokidar@4.0.3, the last CommonJS release (published Dec 18, 2024); it declares Node.js >= 14.16.0.
  4. chokidar@5.0.0 declares engines ">= 20.19.0", so Node.js 18 is unsupported regardless: upgrade Node.js or pin an older release.
  5. TypeScript: types are bundled; install nothing extra.
Latest
5.0.0 (Nov 25, 2025)
Module format
ESM-only
Last CommonJS version
4.0.3
ESM-only since
5.0.0 (Nov 25, 2025)
TypeScript types
Bundled
Node engines
>= 20.19.0
Weekly downloads
185.4M
License
MIT

Does chokidar@5.0.0 actually load? Runtime test results

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

Runtimerequire("chokidar")import "chokidar"
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 1.4.0✓ works✓ works

How to import chokidar

ES modules (import)

import * as chokidar from "chokidar";

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

CommonJS (require)

// Node.js 20.19+, 22.12+ and newer (verified):
const chokidar = require("chokidar");

// Any Node.js version the package supports (>= 20.19.0), from an async function:
async function main() {
  const chokidar = await import("chokidar");
}

// Or pin the last CommonJS release (declares Node.js >= 14.16.0):
// npm install chokidar@4.0.3

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 (103 versions; the newest 60 shown).

VersionsFormatFirst published
5.0.0ESM-onlyNov 25, 2025
4.0.0 – 4.0.3Dual (CommonJS + ESM)Sep 13, 2024
0.12.5 – 3.6.0CommonJSDec 17, 2014

Frequently asked

Is chokidar ESM-only?

chokidar@5.0.0 is ESM-only. chokidar dropped its CommonJS build in 5.0.0 (November 2025). The last version with a plain require()-able CommonJS entry is 4.0.3, published Dec 18, 2024; it declares support for Node.js >= 14.16.0.

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

4.0.3 is the last version of chokidar with a CommonJS build; it declares Node.js >= 14.16.0. Install it with "npm install chokidar@4.0.3". Every version from 5.0.0 on is ESM-only.

How do I use chokidar from a CommonJS file?

From a CommonJS file, use a dynamic import inside an async function: const chokidar = await import("chokidar"). That works on every Node.js version the package supports (>= 20.19.0). On Node.js 20.19+, 22.12+ and newer, require("chokidar") works with the latest version: Node.js loads synchronous ES modules through require(). Verified on Node.js 20, 22, 24 and 26. Alternatively pin chokidar@4.0.3 (declares Node.js >= 14.16.0).

Does chokidar work in Bun?

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

Does chokidar ship TypeScript types?

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

Links

Other esm-only packages

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