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

> entities@8.1.0 is ESM-only. ESM-only since 8.0.0 — last CommonJS version is 7.0.1.

Encode & decode XML and HTML entities with ease & speed

Last verified Sep 9, 2026 against entities@8.1.0.

entities dropped its CommonJS build in 8.0.0 (March 2026). The last version with a plain require()-able CommonJS entry is 7.0.1, published Jan 21, 2026; it declares support for Node.js >=0.12.

On Node.js 20.19+, 22.12+ and newer, require("entities") 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 entities@8.1.0 declares Node.js >=20.19.0, so 18 is outside its supported range anyway.

entities@8.1.0 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("entities") 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 entities = await import("entities"). 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 entities@7.0.1, the last CommonJS release (published Jan 21, 2026); it declares Node.js >=0.12.
4. entities@8.1.0 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.

## Facts

- Latest: 8.1.0 (Sep 7, 2026)
- Module format: ESM-only
- Last CommonJS version: 7.0.1
- ESM-only since: 8.0.0 (Mar 17, 2026)
- TypeScript types: bundled
- Node engines: >=20.19.0
- Weekly downloads: 204.0M
- License: BSD-2-Clause

## Runtime test results for entities@8.1.0

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

| Runtime | require("entities") | import "entities" |
|---|---|---|
| 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 entities

ES modules:

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

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 entities = require("entities");

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

// Or pin the last CommonJS release (declares Node.js >=0.12):
// npm install entities@7.0.1
```

## Module format by version

Derived from the type, main and exports fields of every stable release on npm (36 versions; the newest 36 shown).

| Versions | Format | First published |
|---|---|---|
| 8.0.0 – 8.1.0 | ESM-only | Mar 17, 2026 |
| 4.0.0 – 7.0.1 | Dual (CommonJS + ESM) | Apr 1, 2022 |
| 0.1.0 – 3.0.1 | CommonJS | Jan 14, 2012 |

## Frequently asked

**Is entities ESM-only?**

entities@8.1.0 is ESM-only. entities dropped its CommonJS build in 8.0.0 (March 2026). The last version with a plain require()-able CommonJS entry is 7.0.1, published Jan 21, 2026; it declares support for Node.js >=0.12.

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

7.0.1 is the last version of entities with a CommonJS build; it declares Node.js >=0.12. Install it with "npm install entities@7.0.1". Every version from 8.0.0 on is ESM-only.

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

From a CommonJS file, use a dynamic import inside an async function: const entities = await import("entities"). That works on every Node.js version the package supports (>=20.19.0). On Node.js 20.19+, 22.12+ and newer, require("entities") works with the latest version: Node.js loads synchronous ES modules through require(). Verified on Node.js 20, 22, 24 and 26. Alternatively pin entities@7.0.1 (declares Node.js >=0.12).

**Does entities work in Bun?**

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

**Does entities ship TypeScript types?**

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

## Links

- [entities on npm](https://www.npmjs.com/package/entities)
- [Source repository](https://github.com/fb55/entities)
- [HTML version](https://canirequire.com/package/entities/)
- [JSON version](https://canirequire.com/package/entities.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.