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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. Markdown · 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 with a plain require()-able CommonJS entry is 3.2.0, published Feb 16, 2020; it declares support for Node.js >=8.

On Node.js 20.19+, 22.12+ and newer, require("figures") 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("figures") fails with ERR_REQUIRE_ESM.

What to do

  1. On Node.js 20.19+, 22.12+ and newer, require("figures") 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 figures = await import("figures"). That works on every Node.js version the package supports (>=18).
  3. If you need a synchronous require() or run Node.js 18: npm install figures@3.2.0, the last CommonJS release (published Feb 16, 2020); it declares Node.js >=8.
  4. TypeScript: types are bundled; install nothing extra.
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 1.4.0✓ works✓ works

How to import figures

ES modules (import)

import * as figures from "figures";

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 figures = require("figures");

// Any Node.js version the package supports (>=18), from an async function:
async function main() {
  const figures = await import("figures");
}

// Or pin the last CommonJS release (declares Node.js >=8):
// npm install figures@3.2.0

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 (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 with a plain require()-able CommonJS entry is 3.2.0, published Feb 16, 2020; it declares support for Node.js >=8.

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

3.2.0 is the last version of figures with a CommonJS build; it declares Node.js >=8. 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?

From a CommonJS file, use a dynamic import inside an async function: const figures = await import("figures"). That works on every Node.js version the package supports (>=18). On Node.js 20.19+, 22.12+ and newer, require("figures") works with the latest version: Node.js loads synchronous ES modules through require(). Verified on Node.js 20, 22, 24 and 26. Alternatively pin figures@3.2.0 (declares Node.js >=8).

Does figures work in Bun?

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

Does figures ship TypeScript types?

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

Links

Other esm-only packages

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