# Is detect-libc ESM-only? Can you require() it?

> detect-libc@2.1.2 is a CommonJS package. CommonJS — require() works on every Node.js version we test.

Node.js module to detect the C standard library (libc) implementation family and version

Last verified Sep 9, 2026 against detect-libc@2.1.2.

detect-libc ships CommonJS only. require("detect-libc") works on every Node.js version we test (18, 20, 22, 24 and 26) and in Bun. The package declares Node.js >=8. import "detect-libc" 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("detect-libc") works on every Node.js version we test (18, 20, 22, 24 and 26) and in Bun. The package declares Node.js >=8.
2. From ES modules use the default import: import detectLibc from "detect-libc"; then destructure. Named imports only work when Node.js can statically detect the exports.
3. TypeScript: types are bundled; install nothing extra.

## Facts

- Latest: 2.1.2 (Oct 5, 2025)
- Module format: CommonJS
- Last CommonJS version: 2.1.2
- TypeScript types: bundled
- Node engines: >=8
- Weekly downloads: 175.0M
- License: Apache-2.0

## Runtime test results for detect-libc@2.1.2

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

| Runtime | require("detect-libc") | import "detect-libc" |
|---|---|---|
| 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 detect-libc

ES modules:

```js
import detectLibc from "detect-libc";
```

CommonJS:

```js
const detectLibc = require("detect-libc");
```

## Module format by version

Derived from the type, main and exports fields of every stable release on npm (22 versions; the newest 22 shown).

| Versions | Format | First published |
|---|---|---|
| 0.0.1 – 2.1.2 | CommonJS | Jul 3, 2017 |

## Frequently asked

**Is detect-libc ESM-only?**

detect-libc@2.1.2 is a CommonJS package. detect-libc ships CommonJS only. require("detect-libc") works on every Node.js version we test (18, 20, 22, 24 and 26) and in Bun. The package declares Node.js >=8. import "detect-libc" 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 detect-libc with ES module syntax?**

Yes. import detectLibc from "detect-libc" 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 detect-libc work in Bun?**

Yes. import "detect-libc" loaded successfully in Bun 1.4.0 on Sep 9, 2026.

**Does detect-libc ship TypeScript types?**

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

## Links

- [detect-libc on npm](https://www.npmjs.com/package/detect-libc)
- [Source repository](https://github.com/lovell/detect-libc)
- [HTML version](https://canirequire.com/package/detect-libc/)
- [JSON version](https://canirequire.com/package/detect-libc.json)

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