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

Color conversion and manipulation with CSS string support

Last verified Sep 9, 2026 against color@5.0.3. JSON

ESM-only ESM-only since 5.0.0 — last CommonJS version is 4.2.3

color dropped its CommonJS build in 5.0.0 (February 2025). The last version you can require() on every Node.js version, including 18 and older, is 4.2.3, published Apr 5, 2022.

On Node.js 20.19+, 22.12+ and every newer release, require("color") works anyway: Node can load synchronous ES modules through require(). Verified on Node 20, 22, 24, 26. Node.js 18 and older still fail with ERR_REQUIRE_ESM.

Latest
5.0.3 (Nov 14, 2025)
Module format
ESM-only
Last CommonJS version
4.2.3
ESM-only since
5.0.0 (Feb 12, 2025)
TypeScript types
Bundled
Node engines
>=18
Weekly downloads
45.5M
License
MIT

Does color@5.0.3 actually load? Runtime test results

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

Runtimerequire("color")import "color"
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 color

ES modules (import)

import color from "color";

CommonJS (require)

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

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

// Or pin the last CommonJS release:
// npm install color@4.2.3

Module format by version

Derived from the type, main and exports fields of every stable release on npm (51 versions; the newest 51 shown).

VersionsFormatFirst published
5.0.0 – 5.0.3ESM-onlyFeb 12, 2025
0.1.0 – 4.2.3CommonJSJun 23, 2011

Frequently asked

Is color ESM-only?

color@5.0.3 is ESM-only. color dropped its CommonJS build in 5.0.0 (February 2025). The last version you can require() on every Node.js version, including 18 and older, is 4.2.3, published Apr 5, 2022.

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

4.2.3 is the last version of color with a CommonJS build. Install it with "npm install color@4.2.3". Every version from 5.0.0 on is ESM-only.

How do I use color from a CommonJS file?

Use a dynamic import: const mod = await import("color"). On Node.js 20.19+, 22.12+ and newer, a plain require("color") also works for ESM packages that do not use top-level await. Alternatively pin color@4.2.3.

Does color work in Bun?

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

Does color ship TypeScript types?

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

Links

Other esm-only packages

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