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Is execa ESM-only? Can you require() it?

Process execution for humans

Last verified Sep 9, 2026 against execa@10.0.1. JSON

ESM-only ESM-only since 6.0.0 — last CommonJS version is 5.1.1

execa dropped its CommonJS build in 6.0.0 (November 2021). The last version you can require() on every Node.js version, including 18 and older, is 5.1.1, published Jun 4, 2021.

On Node.js 20.19+, 22.12+ and every newer release, require("execa") works anyway: Node can load synchronous ES modules through require(). Verified on Node 22, 24, 26. Node.js 18 and older still fail with ERR_REQUIRE_ESM.

execa@10.0.1 declares engines ">=22", so Node.js 18, 20 are outside its supported range regardless of module format.

Latest
10.0.1 (Jul 31, 2026)
Module format
ESM-only
Last CommonJS version
5.1.1
ESM-only since
6.0.0 (Nov 17, 2021)
TypeScript types
Bundled
Node engines
>=22
Weekly downloads
150.6M
License
MIT

Does execa@10.0.1 actually load? Runtime test results

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

Runtimerequire("execa")import "execa"
Node.js 18✗ failsERR_REQUIRE_ESM✗ failsSyntaxError
Node.js 20✗ failsTypeError✗ failsTypeError
Node.js 22✓ works✓ works
Node.js 24✓ works✓ works
Node.js 26✓ works✓ works
Bun 1.4✓ works✓ works

How to import execa

ES modules (import)

import execa from "execa";

CommonJS (require)

// Node.js 20.19+ / 22.12+ / newer (package has no top-level await):
const execa = require("execa");

// Any Node.js version:
const execa = await import("execa");

// Or pin the last CommonJS release:
// npm install execa@5.1.1

Module format by version

Derived from the type, main and exports fields of every stable release on npm (65 versions; the newest 60 shown).

VersionsFormatFirst published
6.0.0 – 10.0.1ESM-onlyNov 17, 2021
0.3.0 – 5.1.1CommonJSApr 22, 2016

Frequently asked

Is execa ESM-only?

execa@10.0.1 is ESM-only. execa dropped its CommonJS build in 6.0.0 (November 2021). The last version you can require() on every Node.js version, including 18 and older, is 5.1.1, published Jun 4, 2021.

Which version of execa still supports CommonJS / require()?

5.1.1 is the last version of execa with a CommonJS build. Install it with "npm install execa@5.1.1". Every version from 6.0.0 on is ESM-only.

How do I use execa from a CommonJS file?

Use a dynamic import: const mod = await import("execa"). On Node.js 20.19+, 22.12+ and newer, a plain require("execa") also works for ESM packages that do not use top-level await. Alternatively pin execa@5.1.1.

Does execa work in Bun?

Yes. import "execa" loaded successfully in Bun 1.4 on Sep 9, 2026.

Does execa ship TypeScript types?

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

Links

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