# Is cookie-session ESM-only? Can you require() it?

> cookie-session@2.1.1 is a CommonJS package. CommonJS — require() works on every Node.js version we test.

cookie session middleware

Last verified Sep 9, 2026 against cookie-session@2.1.1.

cookie-session ships CommonJS only. require("cookie-session") works on every Node.js version we test (18, 20, 22, 24 and 26) and in Bun. The package declares Node.js >= 0.10. import "cookie-session" 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("cookie-session") works on every Node.js version we test (18, 20, 22, 24 and 26) and in Bun. The package declares Node.js >= 0.10.
2. From ES modules use the default import: import cookieSession from "cookie-session"; then destructure. Named imports only work when Node.js can statically detect the exports.
3. TypeScript: npm install -D @types/cookie-session

## Facts

- Latest: 2.1.1 (Jul 17, 2025)
- Module format: CommonJS
- Last CommonJS version: 2.1.1
- TypeScript types: @types/cookie-session
- Node engines: >= 0.10
- Weekly downloads: 347K
- License: MIT

## Runtime test results for cookie-session@2.1.1

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

| Runtime | require("cookie-session") | import "cookie-session" |
|---|---|---|
| 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 cookie-session

ES modules:

```js
import cookieSession from "cookie-session";
```

CommonJS:

```js
const cookieSession = require("cookie-session");
```

## Module format by version

Derived from the type, main and exports fields of every stable release on npm (13 versions; the newest 13 shown).

| Versions | Format | First published |
|---|---|---|
| 1.0.0 – 2.1.1 | CommonJS | Feb 23, 2014 |

## Frequently asked

**Is cookie-session ESM-only?**

cookie-session@2.1.1 is a CommonJS package. cookie-session ships CommonJS only. require("cookie-session") works on every Node.js version we test (18, 20, 22, 24 and 26) and in Bun. The package declares Node.js >= 0.10. import "cookie-session" 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 cookie-session with ES module syntax?**

Yes. import cookieSession from "cookie-session" 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 cookie-session work in Bun?**

Yes. import "cookie-session" loaded successfully in Bun 1.4.0 on Sep 9, 2026.

**Does cookie-session ship TypeScript types?**

Not bundled. Install the community types with "npm install -D @types/cookie-session".

## Links

- [cookie-session on npm](https://www.npmjs.com/package/cookie-session)
- [Source repository](https://github.com/expressjs/cookie-session)
- [HTML version](https://canirequire.com/package/cookie-session/)
- [JSON version](https://canirequire.com/package/cookie-session.json)

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