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

> electron@44.3.0 is a CommonJS package. CommonJS — require() works on Node.js 22, 24 and 26, fails on 18 and 20.

Build cross platform desktop apps with JavaScript, HTML, and CSS

Last verified Sep 9, 2026 against electron@44.3.0.

electron ships CommonJS only. require("electron") works on Node.js 22, 24 and 26 but fails on Node.js 18 and 20 (ERR_REQUIRE_ESM). The package declares Node.js >= 22.12.0. import "electron" 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("electron") works on Node.js 22, 24 and 26 but fails on Node.js 18 and 20 (ERR_REQUIRE_ESM). The package declares Node.js >= 22.12.0.
2. From ES modules use the default import: import electron from "electron"; then destructure. Named imports only work when Node.js can statically detect the exports.
3. TypeScript: types are bundled; install nothing extra.

## Facts

- Latest: 44.3.0 (Sep 8, 2026)
- Module format: CommonJS
- Last CommonJS version: 44.3.0
- TypeScript types: bundled
- Node engines: >= 22.12.0
- Weekly downloads: 6.0M
- License: MIT

## Runtime test results for electron@44.3.0

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

| Runtime | require("electron") | import "electron" |
|---|---|---|
| Node.js 18 | fails (ERR_REQUIRE_ESM) | fails (ERR_REQUIRE_ESM) |
| Node.js 20 | fails (TIMEOUT) | 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 electron

ES modules:

```js
import electron from "electron";
```

CommonJS:

```js
const electron = require("electron");
```

## Module format by version

Derived from the type, main and exports fields of every stable release on npm (1079 versions; the newest 60 shown).

| Versions | Format | First published |
|---|---|---|
| 41.7.0 – 44.3.0 | CommonJS | May 19, 2026 |

## Frequently asked

**Is electron ESM-only?**

electron@44.3.0 is a CommonJS package. electron ships CommonJS only. require("electron") works on Node.js 22, 24 and 26 but fails on Node.js 18 and 20 (ERR_REQUIRE_ESM). The package declares Node.js >= 22.12.0. import "electron" 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 electron with ES module syntax?**

Yes. import electron from "electron" 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 electron work in Bun?**

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

**Does electron ship TypeScript types?**

Yes. electron bundles its own type declarations; no @types package is needed.

## Links

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

---

For scripts and AI agents: any package is at https://canirequire.com/package/<name>/index.md (Markdown) or https://canirequire.com/package/<name>.json (JSON); the site index is https://canirequire.com/llms.txt. Fetch the URL directly; no search needed.