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Is content-type ESM-only? Can you require() it?

Create and parse HTTP Content-Type header

Last verified Sep 9, 2026 against content-type@3.0.0. JSON

ESM-only ESM-only since 3.0.0 — last CommonJS version is 2.1.0

content-type dropped its CommonJS build in 3.0.0 (August 2026). The last version you can require() on every Node.js version, including 18 and older, is 2.1.0, published Aug 13, 2026.

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

content-type@3.0.0 declares engines ">=22", so Node.js 18, 20 are outside its supported range regardless of module format.

Latest
3.0.0 (Aug 20, 2026)
Module format
ESM-only
Last CommonJS version
2.1.0
ESM-only since
3.0.0 (Aug 20, 2026)
TypeScript types
Bundled
Node engines
>=22
Weekly downloads
191.4M
License
MIT

Does content-type@3.0.0 actually load? Runtime test results

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

Runtimerequire("content-type")import "content-type"
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 content-type

ES modules (import)

import contentType from "content-type";

CommonJS (require)

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

// Any Node.js version:
const contentType = await import("content-type");

// Or pin the last CommonJS release:
// npm install content-type@2.1.0

Module format by version

Derived from the type, main and exports fields of every stable release on npm (10 versions; the newest 10 shown).

VersionsFormatFirst published
3.0.0ESM-onlyAug 20, 2026
0.0.1 – 2.1.0CommonJSOct 8, 2013

Frequently asked

Is content-type ESM-only?

content-type@3.0.0 is ESM-only. content-type dropped its CommonJS build in 3.0.0 (August 2026). The last version you can require() on every Node.js version, including 18 and older, is 2.1.0, published Aug 13, 2026.

Which version of content-type still supports CommonJS / require()?

2.1.0 is the last version of content-type with a CommonJS build. Install it with "npm install content-type@2.1.0". Every version from 3.0.0 on is ESM-only.

How do I use content-type from a CommonJS file?

Use a dynamic import: const mod = await import("content-type"). On Node.js 20.19+, 22.12+ and newer, a plain require("content-type") also works for ESM packages that do not use top-level await. Alternatively pin content-type@2.1.0.

Does content-type work in Bun?

Yes. import "content-type" loaded successfully in Bun 1.4 on Sep 9, 2026.

Does content-type ship TypeScript types?

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

Links

Other esm-only packages

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