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

> cli-table@0.3.11 is a CommonJS package. CommonJS — require() works on every Node.js version we test.

Pretty unicode tables for the CLI

Last verified Sep 9, 2026 against cli-table@0.3.11.

cli-table ships CommonJS only. require("cli-table") works on every Node.js version we test (18, 20, 22, 24 and 26) and in Bun. The package declares Node.js >= 0.2.0. import "cli-table" 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("cli-table") works on every Node.js version we test (18, 20, 22, 24 and 26) and in Bun. The package declares Node.js >= 0.2.0.
2. From ES modules use the default import: import cliTable from "cli-table"; then destructure. Named imports only work when Node.js can statically detect the exports.
3. TypeScript: npm install -D @types/cli-table

## Facts

- Latest: 0.3.11 (Dec 6, 2021)
- Module format: CommonJS
- Last CommonJS version: 0.3.11
- TypeScript types: @types/cli-table
- Node engines: >= 0.2.0
- Weekly downloads: 4.2M
- License: unknown

## Runtime test results for cli-table@0.3.11

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

| Runtime | require("cli-table") | import "cli-table" |
|---|---|---|
| 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 cli-table

ES modules:

```js
import cliTable from "cli-table";
```

CommonJS:

```js
const cliTable = require("cli-table");
```

## Module format by version

Derived from the type, main and exports fields of every stable release on npm (15 versions; the newest 15 shown).

| Versions | Format | First published |
|---|---|---|
| 0.0.1 – 0.3.11 | CommonJS | Jan 4, 2011 |

## Frequently asked

**Is cli-table ESM-only?**

cli-table@0.3.11 is a CommonJS package. cli-table ships CommonJS only. require("cli-table") works on every Node.js version we test (18, 20, 22, 24 and 26) and in Bun. The package declares Node.js >= 0.2.0. import "cli-table" 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 cli-table with ES module syntax?**

Yes. import cliTable from "cli-table" 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 cli-table work in Bun?**

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

**Does cli-table ship TypeScript types?**

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

## Links

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

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