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Is estree-walker ESM-only? Can you require() it?

Traverse an ESTree-compliant AST

Last verified Sep 9, 2026 against estree-walker@3.0.3. Markdown · JSON

ESM-only ESM-only since 3.0.0 — last CommonJS version is 2.0.2

estree-walker dropped its CommonJS build in 3.0.0 (January 2021). The last version with a plain require()-able CommonJS entry is 2.0.2, published Dec 8, 2020.

require("estree-walker") failed in our probe on Node.js 20+ as well; see the runtime table for the error before relying on it. On Node.js 18, which has no require(esm), require("estree-walker") fails with ERR_REQUIRE_ESM.

What to do

  1. require("estree-walker") failed in our probe on Node.js 20+ as well; see the runtime table for the error before relying on it.
  2. From a CommonJS file, use a dynamic import inside an async function: const estreeWalker = await import("estree-walker"). That works on every Node.js version the package supports.
  3. If you need a synchronous require() or run Node.js 18: npm install estree-walker@2.0.2, the last CommonJS release (published Dec 8, 2020).
  4. TypeScript: types are bundled; install nothing extra.
Latest
3.0.3 (Jan 20, 2023)
Module format
ESM-only
Last CommonJS version
2.0.2
ESM-only since
3.0.0 (Jan 29, 2021)
TypeScript types
Bundled
Node engines
not declared
Weekly downloads
159.5M
License
MIT

Does estree-walker@3.0.3 actually load? Runtime test results

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

Runtimerequire("estree-walker")import "estree-walker"
Node.js 18✗ failsERR_PACKAGE_PATH_NOT_EXPORTED✓ works
Node.js 20✗ failsERR_PACKAGE_PATH_NOT_EXPORTED✓ works
Node.js 22✗ failsERR_PACKAGE_PATH_NOT_EXPORTED✓ works
Node.js 24✗ failsERR_PACKAGE_PATH_NOT_EXPORTED✓ works
Node.js 26✗ failsERR_PACKAGE_PATH_NOT_EXPORTED✓ works
Bun 1.4.0✗ failsError✓ works

How to import estree-walker

ES modules (import)

import * as estreeWalker from "estree-walker";

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

CommonJS (require)

// require("estree-walker") failed in our probe on Node.js 20.19+, 22.12+ and newer as well (ERR_PACKAGE_PATH_NOT_EXPORTED); see the runtime table.

// Any Node.js version the package supports, from an async function:
async function main() {
  const estreeWalker = await import("estree-walker");
}

// Or pin the last CommonJS release:
// npm install estree-walker@2.0.2

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 (27 versions; the newest 27 shown).

VersionsFormatFirst published
3.0.0 – 3.0.3ESM-onlyJan 29, 2021
2.0.2Dual (CommonJS + ESM)Dec 8, 2020
0.1.0 – 2.0.1CommonJSApr 9, 2015

Frequently asked

Is estree-walker ESM-only?

estree-walker@3.0.3 is ESM-only. estree-walker dropped its CommonJS build in 3.0.0 (January 2021). The last version with a plain require()-able CommonJS entry is 2.0.2, published Dec 8, 2020.

Which version of estree-walker still supports CommonJS / require()?

2.0.2 is the last version of estree-walker with a CommonJS build. Install it with "npm install estree-walker@2.0.2". Every version from 3.0.0 on is ESM-only.

How do I use estree-walker from a CommonJS file?

From a CommonJS file, use a dynamic import inside an async function: const estreeWalker = await import("estree-walker"). That works on every Node.js version the package supports. require("estree-walker") failed in our probe on Node.js 20+ as well; see the runtime table for the error before relying on it. Alternatively pin estree-walker@2.0.2.

Does estree-walker work in Bun?

Yes. import "estree-walker" loaded successfully in Bun 1.4.0 on Sep 9, 2026.

Does estree-walker ship TypeScript types?

Yes. estree-walker bundles its own type declarations; no @types package is needed.

Links

Other esm-only packages

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