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

> documentation@14.0.3 is ESM-only. ESM-only since 14.0.0 — last CommonJS version is 13.2.5.

a documentation generator

Last verified Sep 9, 2026 against documentation@14.0.3.

documentation dropped its CommonJS build in 14.0.0 (August 2022). The last version with a plain require()-able CommonJS entry is 13.2.5, published Apr 24, 2021; it declares support for Node.js >=10.

On Node.js 20.19+, 22.12+ and newer, require("documentation") works with the latest version: Node.js loads synchronous ES modules through require(). Verified on Node.js 20, 22, 24 and 26. On Node.js 18, which has no require(esm), require("documentation") fails with ERR_REQUIRE_ESM.

## What to do

1. On Node.js 20.19+, 22.12+ and newer, require("documentation") 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 documentation = await import("documentation"). That works on every Node.js version the package supports (>=14).
3. If you need a synchronous require() or run Node.js 18: npm install documentation@13.2.5, the last CommonJS release (published Apr 24, 2021); it declares Node.js >=10.
4. TypeScript: no types are available for documentation; declare the module yourself if you need them.

## Facts

- Latest: 14.0.3 (Jan 30, 2024)
- Module format: ESM-only
- Last CommonJS version: 13.2.5
- ESM-only since: 14.0.0 (Aug 19, 2022)
- TypeScript types: none
- Node engines: >=14
- Weekly downloads: 84K
- License: ISC

## Runtime test results for documentation@14.0.3

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

| Runtime | require("documentation") | import "documentation" |
|---|---|---|
| Node.js 18 | fails (ERR_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 documentation

ES modules:

```js
import * as documentation from "documentation";
```

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

CommonJS:

```js
// Node.js 20.19+, 22.12+ and newer (verified):
const documentation = require("documentation");

// Any Node.js version the package supports (>=14), from an async function:
async function main() {
  const documentation = await import("documentation");
}

// Or pin the last CommonJS release (declares Node.js >=10):
// npm install documentation@13.2.5
```

## Module format by version

Derived from the type, main and exports fields of every stable release on npm (89 versions; the newest 60 shown).

| Versions | Format | First published |
|---|---|---|
| 14.0.0 – 14.0.3 | ESM-only | Aug 19, 2022 |
| 5.3.0 – 13.2.5 | CommonJS | Sep 4, 2017 |

## Frequently asked

**Is documentation ESM-only?**

documentation@14.0.3 is ESM-only. documentation dropped its CommonJS build in 14.0.0 (August 2022). The last version with a plain require()-able CommonJS entry is 13.2.5, published Apr 24, 2021; it declares support for Node.js >=10.

**Which version of documentation still supports CommonJS / require()?**

13.2.5 is the last version of documentation with a CommonJS build; it declares Node.js >=10. Install it with "npm install documentation@13.2.5". Every version from 14.0.0 on is ESM-only.

**How do I use documentation from a CommonJS file?**

From a CommonJS file, use a dynamic import inside an async function: const documentation = await import("documentation"). That works on every Node.js version the package supports (>=14). On Node.js 20.19+, 22.12+ and newer, require("documentation") works with the latest version: Node.js loads synchronous ES modules through require(). Verified on Node.js 20, 22, 24 and 26. Alternatively pin documentation@13.2.5 (declares Node.js >=10).

**Does documentation work in Bun?**

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

**Does documentation ship TypeScript types?**

No. documentation ships no type declarations and there is no @types package for it.

## Links

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

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