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Is escape-string-regexp ESM-only? Can you require() it?

Escape RegExp special characters

Last verified Sep 9, 2026 against escape-string-regexp@5.0.0. Markdown · JSON

ESM-only ESM-only since 5.0.0 — last CommonJS version is 4.0.0

escape-string-regexp dropped its CommonJS build in 5.0.0 (April 2021). The last version with a plain require()-able CommonJS entry is 4.0.0, published Apr 23, 2020; it declares support for Node.js >=10.

On Node.js 20.19+, 22.12+ and newer, require("escape-string-regexp") 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("escape-string-regexp") fails with ERR_REQUIRE_ESM.

What to do

  1. On Node.js 20.19+, 22.12+ and newer, require("escape-string-regexp") 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 escapeStringRegexp = await import("escape-string-regexp"). That works on every Node.js version the package supports (>=12).
  3. If you need a synchronous require() or run Node.js 18: npm install escape-string-regexp@4.0.0, the last CommonJS release (published Apr 23, 2020); it declares Node.js >=10.
  4. TypeScript: npm install -D @types/escape-string-regexp
Latest
5.0.0 (Apr 17, 2021)
Module format
ESM-only
Last CommonJS version
4.0.0
ESM-only since
5.0.0 (Apr 17, 2021)
TypeScript types
@types/escape-string-regexp
Node engines
>=12
Weekly downloads
316.5M
License
MIT

Does escape-string-regexp@5.0.0 actually load? Runtime test results

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

Runtimerequire("escape-string-regexp")import "escape-string-regexp"
Node.js 18✗ failsERR_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 escape-string-regexp

ES modules (import)

import * as escapeStringRegexp from "escape-string-regexp";

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

CommonJS (require)

// Node.js 20.19+, 22.12+ and newer (verified):
const escapeStringRegexp = require("escape-string-regexp");

// Any Node.js version the package supports (>=12), from an async function:
async function main() {
  const escapeStringRegexp = await import("escape-string-regexp");
}

// Or pin the last CommonJS release (declares Node.js >=10):
// npm install escape-string-regexp@4.0.0

Module format by version

Derived from the type, main and exports fields of every stable release on npm, corrected where a runtime test of that version contradicted them (10 versions; the newest 10 shown).

VersionsFormatFirst published
5.0.0ESM-onlyApr 17, 2021
1.0.0 – 4.0.0CommonJSJun 24, 2014

Frequently asked

Is escape-string-regexp ESM-only?

escape-string-regexp@5.0.0 is ESM-only. escape-string-regexp dropped its CommonJS build in 5.0.0 (April 2021). The last version with a plain require()-able CommonJS entry is 4.0.0, published Apr 23, 2020; it declares support for Node.js >=10.

Which version of escape-string-regexp still supports CommonJS / require()?

4.0.0 is the last version of escape-string-regexp with a CommonJS build; it declares Node.js >=10. Install it with "npm install escape-string-regexp@4.0.0". Every version from 5.0.0 on is ESM-only.

How do I use escape-string-regexp from a CommonJS file?

From a CommonJS file, use a dynamic import inside an async function: const escapeStringRegexp = await import("escape-string-regexp"). That works on every Node.js version the package supports (>=12). On Node.js 20.19+, 22.12+ and newer, require("escape-string-regexp") works with the latest version: Node.js loads synchronous ES modules through require(). Verified on Node.js 20, 22, 24 and 26. Alternatively pin escape-string-regexp@4.0.0 (declares Node.js >=10).

Does escape-string-regexp work in Bun?

Yes. import "escape-string-regexp" loaded successfully in Bun 1.4.0 on Sep 9, 2026.

Does escape-string-regexp ship TypeScript types?

Not bundled. Install the community types with "npm install -D @types/escape-string-regexp".

Links

Other esm-only packages

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