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

> escalade@3.2.0 ships CommonJS and ESM builds. Dual package — require() works on every Node.js version we test; import works too.

A tiny (183B to 210B) and fast utility to ascend parent directories

Last verified Sep 9, 2026 against escalade@3.2.0.

escalade publishes both a CommonJS entry and a native ESM entry (ESM added in 1.0.0). require("escalade") works on every Node.js version we test (18, 20, 22, 24 and 26) and in Bun. The package declares Node.js >=6. import "escalade" works alongside it.

## What to do

1. Nothing to change. require("escalade") works on every Node.js version we test (18, 20, 22, 24 and 26) and in Bun. The package declares Node.js >=6. import * as escalade from "escalade" works alongside it; use named imports for what the ESM entry exports.
2. TypeScript: types are bundled; install nothing extra.

## Facts

- Latest: 3.2.0 (Aug 29, 2024)
- Module format: Dual (CommonJS + ESM)
- Last CommonJS version: 3.2.0
- Native ESM since: 1.0.0
- TypeScript types: bundled
- Node engines: >=6
- Weekly downloads: 136.6M
- License: MIT

## Runtime test results for escalade@3.2.0

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

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

ES modules:

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

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

CommonJS:

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

## Module format by version

Derived from the type, main and exports fields of every stable release on npm (10 versions; the newest 10 shown).

| Versions | Format | First published |
|---|---|---|
| 1.0.0 – 3.2.0 | Dual (CommonJS + ESM) | Jun 19, 2020 |
| 0.0.0 | CommonJS | Jun 19, 2020 |

## Frequently asked

**Is escalade ESM-only?**

escalade@3.2.0 ships CommonJS and ESM builds. escalade publishes both a CommonJS entry and a native ESM entry (ESM added in 1.0.0). require("escalade") works on every Node.js version we test (18, 20, 22, 24 and 26) and in Bun. The package declares Node.js >=6. import "escalade" works alongside it.

**Can I require escalade?**

Yes. escalade ships a CommonJS entry alongside the native ESM entry. require("escalade") works on every Node.js version we test (18, 20, 22, 24 and 26) and in Bun. The package declares Node.js >=6.

**Does escalade work in Bun?**

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

**Does escalade ship TypeScript types?**

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

## Links

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

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