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Is css-what ESM-only? Can you require() it?

a CSS selector parser

Last verified Sep 9, 2026 against css-what@8.0.0. Markdown · JSON

ESM-only ESM-only since 8.0.0 — last CommonJS version is 7.0.0

css-what dropped its CommonJS build in 8.0.0 (March 2026). The last version with a plain require()-able CommonJS entry is 7.0.0, published Jun 29, 2025; it declares support for Node.js >= 6.

On Node.js 20.19+, 22.12+ and newer, require("css-what") works with the latest version: Node.js loads synchronous ES modules through require(). Verified on Node.js 20, 22, 24 and 26. Node.js 18 has no require(esm), and css-what@8.0.0 declares Node.js >=20.19.0, so 18 is outside its supported range anyway.

css-what@8.0.0 declares engines ">=20.19.0", so Node.js 18 is outside its supported range regardless of module format.

What to do

  1. On Node.js 20.19+, 22.12+ and newer, require("css-what") works with the latest version: Node.js loads synchronous ES modules through require(). Verified on Node.js 20, 22, 24 and 26.
  2. From a CommonJS file, use a dynamic import inside an async function: const cssWhat = await import("css-what"). That works on every Node.js version the package supports (>=20.19.0).
  3. If you need a synchronous require() or run Node.js 18: npm install css-what@7.0.0, the last CommonJS release (published Jun 29, 2025); it declares Node.js >= 6.
  4. css-what@8.0.0 declares engines ">=20.19.0", so Node.js 18 is unsupported regardless: upgrade Node.js or pin an older release.
  5. TypeScript: types are bundled; install nothing extra.
Latest
8.0.0 (Mar 17, 2026)
Module format
ESM-only
Last CommonJS version
7.0.0
ESM-only since
8.0.0 (Mar 17, 2026)
TypeScript types
Bundled
Node engines
>=20.19.0
Weekly downloads
63.5M
License
BSD-2-Clause

Does css-what@8.0.0 actually load? Runtime test results

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

Runtimerequire("css-what")import "css-what"
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 1.4.0✓ works✓ works

How to import css-what

ES modules (import)

import * as cssWhat from "css-what";

Namespace import shown because the ESM entry may have no default export; use named imports for what it exports.

CommonJS (require)

// Node.js 20.19+, 22.12+ and newer (verified):
const cssWhat = require("css-what");

// Any Node.js version the package supports (>=20.19.0), from an async function:
async function main() {
  const cssWhat = await import("css-what");
}

// Or pin the last CommonJS release (declares Node.js >= 6):
// npm install css-what@7.0.0

Module format by version

Derived from the type, main and exports fields of every stable release on npm, corrected where a runtime test of that version contradicted them (29 versions; the newest 29 shown).

VersionsFormatFirst published
8.0.0ESM-onlyMar 17, 2026
7.0.0Dual (CommonJS + ESM)Jun 29, 2025
6.2.2CommonJSJun 28, 2025
6.2.0 – 6.2.1Dual (CommonJS + ESM)Jun 28, 2025
1.0.0 – 6.1.0CommonJSFeb 3, 2015

Frequently asked

Is css-what ESM-only?

css-what@8.0.0 is ESM-only. css-what dropped its CommonJS build in 8.0.0 (March 2026). The last version with a plain require()-able CommonJS entry is 7.0.0, published Jun 29, 2025; it declares support for Node.js >= 6.

Which version of css-what still supports CommonJS / require()?

7.0.0 is the last version of css-what with a CommonJS build; it declares Node.js >= 6. Install it with "npm install css-what@7.0.0". Every version from 8.0.0 on is ESM-only.

How do I use css-what from a CommonJS file?

From a CommonJS file, use a dynamic import inside an async function: const cssWhat = await import("css-what"). That works on every Node.js version the package supports (>=20.19.0). On Node.js 20.19+, 22.12+ and newer, require("css-what") works with the latest version: Node.js loads synchronous ES modules through require(). Verified on Node.js 20, 22, 24 and 26. Alternatively pin css-what@7.0.0 (declares Node.js >= 6).

Does css-what work in Bun?

Yes. import "css-what" loaded successfully in Bun 1.4.0 on Sep 9, 2026.

Does css-what ship TypeScript types?

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

Links

Other esm-only packages

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