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

Lightweight debugging utility for Node.js and the browser

Last verified Sep 9, 2026 against debug@4.4.3. Markdown · JSON

CommonJS CommonJS — require() works on every Node.js version we test

debug ships CommonJS only. require("debug") works on every Node.js version we test (18, 20, 22, 24 and 26) and in Bun. The package declares Node.js >=6.0. import "debug" 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("debug") works on every Node.js version we test (18, 20, 22, 24 and 26) and in Bun. The package declares Node.js >=6.0.
  2. From ES modules use the default import: import debug from "debug"; then destructure. Named imports only work when Node.js can statically detect the exports.
  3. TypeScript: npm install -D @types/debug
Latest
4.4.3 (Sep 13, 2025)
Module format
CommonJS
Last CommonJS version
4.4.3
TypeScript types
@types/debug
Node engines
>=6.0
Weekly downloads
625.4M
License
MIT

Does debug@4.4.3 actually load? Runtime test results

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

Runtimerequire("debug")import "debug"
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 debug

ES modules (import)

import debug from "debug";

Named imports from a CommonJS package only work when Node.js can statically detect them. If a named import fails, use the default import and destructure.

CommonJS (require)

const debug = require("debug");

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 (77 versions; the newest 60 shown).

VersionsFormatFirst published
1.0.2 – 4.4.3CommonJSJun 11, 2014

Frequently asked

Is debug ESM-only?

debug@4.4.3 is a CommonJS package. debug ships CommonJS only. require("debug") works on every Node.js version we test (18, 20, 22, 24 and 26) and in Bun. The package declares Node.js >=6.0. import "debug" 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 debug with ES module syntax?

Yes. import debug from "debug" 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 debug work in Bun?

Yes. import "debug" loaded successfully in Bun 1.4.0 on Sep 9, 2026.

Does debug ship TypeScript types?

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

Links

Other commonjs packages

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