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

> coffee-script@1.12.7 is a CommonJS package. CommonJS — require() works on every Node.js version we test.

Unfancy JavaScript

Last verified Sep 9, 2026 against coffee-script@1.12.7.

coffee-script ships CommonJS only. require("coffee-script") works on every Node.js version we test (18, 20, 22, 24 and 26) and in Bun. The package declares Node.js >=0.8.0. import "coffee-script" 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.

**Deprecated:** CoffeeScript on NPM has moved to "coffeescript" (no hyphen)

## What to do

1. require("coffee-script") works on every Node.js version we test (18, 20, 22, 24 and 26) and in Bun. The package declares Node.js >=0.8.0.
2. From ES modules use the default import: import coffeeScript from "coffee-script"; then destructure. Named imports only work when Node.js can statically detect the exports.
3. TypeScript: no types are available for coffee-script; declare the module yourself if you need them.
4. This package is deprecated: CoffeeScript on NPM has moved to "coffeescript" (no hyphen)

## Facts

- Latest: 1.12.7 (Jul 17, 2017)
- Module format: CommonJS
- Last CommonJS version: 1.12.7
- TypeScript types: none
- Node engines: >=0.8.0
- Weekly downloads: 928K
- License: MIT

## Runtime test results for coffee-script@1.12.7

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

| Runtime | require("coffee-script") | import "coffee-script" |
|---|---|---|
| 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 coffee-script

ES modules:

```js
import coffeeScript from "coffee-script";
```

CommonJS:

```js
const coffeeScript = require("coffee-script");
```

## Module format by version

Derived from the type, main and exports fields of every stable release on npm (45 versions; the newest 45 shown).

| Versions | Format | First published |
|---|---|---|
| 0.7.0 – 1.12.7 | CommonJS | Dec 24, 2010 |

## Frequently asked

**Is coffee-script ESM-only?**

coffee-script@1.12.7 is a CommonJS package. coffee-script ships CommonJS only. require("coffee-script") works on every Node.js version we test (18, 20, 22, 24 and 26) and in Bun. The package declares Node.js >=0.8.0. import "coffee-script" 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 coffee-script with ES module syntax?**

Yes. import coffeeScript from "coffee-script" 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 coffee-script work in Bun?**

Yes. import "coffee-script" loaded successfully in Bun 1.4.0 on Sep 9, 2026.

**Does coffee-script ship TypeScript types?**

No. coffee-script ships no type declarations and there is no @types package for it.

## Links

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

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