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Is cli-cursor ESM-only? Can you require() it?

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Last verified Sep 9, 2026 against cli-cursor@5.0.0. Markdown · JSON

ESM-only ESM-only since 4.0.0 — last CommonJS version is 3.1.0

cli-cursor dropped its CommonJS build in 4.0.0 (August 2021). The last version with a plain require()-able CommonJS entry is 3.1.0, published Jun 11, 2019; it declares support for Node.js >=8.

On Node.js 20.19+, 22.12+ and newer, require("cli-cursor") works with the latest version: Node.js loads synchronous ES modules through require(). Verified on Node.js 20, 22, 24 and 26. On Node.js 18, which has no require(esm), require("cli-cursor") fails with ERR_REQUIRE_ESM.

What to do

  1. On Node.js 20.19+, 22.12+ and newer, require("cli-cursor") 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 cliCursor = await import("cli-cursor"). That works on every Node.js version the package supports (>=18).
  3. If you need a synchronous require() or run Node.js 18: npm install cli-cursor@3.1.0, the last CommonJS release (published Jun 11, 2019); it declares Node.js >=8.
  4. TypeScript: types are bundled; install nothing extra.
Latest
5.0.0 (Jul 26, 2024)
Module format
ESM-only
Last CommonJS version
3.1.0
ESM-only since
4.0.0 (Aug 23, 2021)
TypeScript types
Bundled
Node engines
>=18
Weekly downloads
107.6M
License
MIT

Does cli-cursor@5.0.0 actually load? Runtime test results

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

Runtimerequire("cli-cursor")import "cli-cursor"
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 cli-cursor

ES modules (import)

import * as cliCursor from "cli-cursor";

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 cliCursor = require("cli-cursor");

// Any Node.js version the package supports (>=18), from an async function:
async function main() {
  const cliCursor = await import("cli-cursor");
}

// Or pin the last CommonJS release (declares Node.js >=8):
// npm install cli-cursor@3.1.0

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 (9 versions; the newest 9 shown).

VersionsFormatFirst published
4.0.0 – 5.0.0ESM-onlyAug 23, 2021
1.0.0 – 3.1.0CommonJSAug 31, 2014

Frequently asked

Is cli-cursor ESM-only?

cli-cursor@5.0.0 is ESM-only. cli-cursor dropped its CommonJS build in 4.0.0 (August 2021). The last version with a plain require()-able CommonJS entry is 3.1.0, published Jun 11, 2019; it declares support for Node.js >=8.

Which version of cli-cursor still supports CommonJS / require()?

3.1.0 is the last version of cli-cursor with a CommonJS build; it declares Node.js >=8. Install it with "npm install cli-cursor@3.1.0". Every version from 4.0.0 on is ESM-only.

How do I use cli-cursor from a CommonJS file?

From a CommonJS file, use a dynamic import inside an async function: const cliCursor = await import("cli-cursor"). That works on every Node.js version the package supports (>=18). On Node.js 20.19+, 22.12+ and newer, require("cli-cursor") works with the latest version: Node.js loads synchronous ES modules through require(). Verified on Node.js 20, 22, 24 and 26. Alternatively pin cli-cursor@3.1.0 (declares Node.js >=8).

Does cli-cursor work in Bun?

Yes. import "cli-cursor" loaded successfully in Bun 1.4.0 on Sep 9, 2026.

Does cli-cursor ship TypeScript types?

Yes. cli-cursor bundles its own type declarations; no @types package is needed.

Links

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