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

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Last verified Sep 9, 2026 against figures@6.1.0. JSON

ESM-only ESM-only since 4.0.0 — last CommonJS version is 3.2.0

figures dropped its CommonJS build in 4.0.0 (July 2021). The last version you can require() on every Node.js version, including 18 and older, is 3.2.0, published Feb 16, 2020.

On Node.js 20.19+, 22.12+ and every newer release, require("figures") works anyway: Node can load synchronous ES modules through require(). Verified on Node 20, 22, 24, 26. Node.js 18 and older still fail with ERR_REQUIRE_ESM.

Latest
6.1.0 (Mar 4, 2024)
Module format
ESM-only
Last CommonJS version
3.2.0
ESM-only since
4.0.0 (Jul 2, 2021)
TypeScript types
Bundled
Node engines
>=18
Weekly downloads
71.0M
License
MIT

Does figures@6.1.0 actually load? Runtime test results

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

Runtimerequire("figures")import "figures"
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✓ works✓ works

How to import figures

ES modules (import)

import figures from "figures";

CommonJS (require)

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

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

// Or pin the last CommonJS release:
// npm install figures@3.2.0

Module format by version

Derived from the type, main and exports fields of every stable release on npm (25 versions; the newest 25 shown).

VersionsFormatFirst published
4.0.0 – 6.1.0ESM-onlyJul 2, 2021
1.0.0 – 3.2.0CommonJSJul 10, 2014

Frequently asked

Is figures ESM-only?

figures@6.1.0 is ESM-only. figures dropped its CommonJS build in 4.0.0 (July 2021). The last version you can require() on every Node.js version, including 18 and older, is 3.2.0, published Feb 16, 2020.

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

3.2.0 is the last version of figures with a CommonJS build. Install it with "npm install figures@3.2.0". Every version from 4.0.0 on is ESM-only.

How do I use figures from a CommonJS file?

Use a dynamic import: const mod = await import("figures"). On Node.js 20.19+, 22.12+ and newer, a plain require("figures") also works for ESM packages that do not use top-level await. Alternatively pin figures@3.2.0.

Does figures work in Bun?

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

Does figures ship TypeScript types?

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

Links

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