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Is file-type ESM-only? Can you require() it?

Detect the file type of a file, stream, or data

Last verified Sep 9, 2026 against file-type@22.0.2. Markdown · JSON

ESM-only ESM-only since 17.0.0 — last CommonJS version is 16.5.4

file-type dropped its CommonJS build in 17.0.0 (November 2021). The last version with a plain require()-able CommonJS entry is 16.5.4, published Jul 21, 2022; it declares support for Node.js >=10.

On Node.js 22.12+ and newer (file-type@22.0.2 declares Node.js >=22), require("file-type") works with the latest version: Node.js loads synchronous ES modules through require(). Verified on Node.js 22, 24 and 26. Node.js 18 has no require(esm), and file-type@22.0.2 declares Node.js >=22, so 18 is outside its supported range anyway.

file-type@22.0.2 declares engines ">=22", so Node.js 18, 20 are outside its supported range regardless of module format.

What to do

  1. On Node.js 22.12+ and newer (file-type@22.0.2 declares Node.js >=22), require("file-type") works with the latest version: Node.js loads synchronous ES modules through require(). Verified on Node.js 22, 24 and 26.
  2. From a CommonJS file, use a dynamic import inside an async function: const fileType = await import("file-type"). That works on every Node.js version the package supports (>=22).
  3. If you need a synchronous require() or run Node.js 18: npm install file-type@16.5.4, the last CommonJS release (published Jul 21, 2022); it declares Node.js >=10.
  4. file-type@22.0.2 declares engines ">=22", so Node.js 18, 20 are unsupported regardless: upgrade Node.js or pin an older release.
  5. TypeScript: types are bundled; install nothing extra.
Latest
22.0.2 (Aug 15, 2026)
Module format
ESM-only
Last CommonJS version
16.5.4
ESM-only since
17.0.0 (Nov 24, 2021)
TypeScript types
Bundled
Node engines
>=22
Weekly downloads
40.4M
License
MIT

Does file-type@22.0.2 actually load? Runtime test results

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

Runtimerequire("file-type")import "file-type"
Node.js 18✗ failsERR_REQUIRE_ESM✗ failsSyntaxError
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 file-type

ES modules (import)

import * as fileType from "file-type";

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

CommonJS (require)

// Node.js 22.12+ and newer (verified):
const fileType = require("file-type");

// Any Node.js version the package supports (>=22), from an async function:
async function main() {
  const fileType = await import("file-type");
}

// Or pin the last CommonJS release (declares Node.js >=10):
// npm install file-type@16.5.4

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 (170 versions; the newest 60 shown).

VersionsFormatFirst published
17.0.0 – 22.0.2ESM-onlyNov 24, 2021
15.0.1 – 16.5.4CommonJSSep 14, 2020

Frequently asked

Is file-type ESM-only?

file-type@22.0.2 is ESM-only. file-type dropped its CommonJS build in 17.0.0 (November 2021). The last version with a plain require()-able CommonJS entry is 16.5.4, published Jul 21, 2022; it declares support for Node.js >=10.

Which version of file-type still supports CommonJS / require()?

16.5.4 is the last version of file-type with a CommonJS build; it declares Node.js >=10. Install it with "npm install file-type@16.5.4". Every version from 17.0.0 on is ESM-only.

How do I use file-type from a CommonJS file?

From a CommonJS file, use a dynamic import inside an async function: const fileType = await import("file-type"). That works on every Node.js version the package supports (>=22). On Node.js 22.12+ and newer (file-type@22.0.2 declares Node.js >=22), require("file-type") works with the latest version: Node.js loads synchronous ES modules through require(). Verified on Node.js 22, 24 and 26. Alternatively pin file-type@16.5.4 (declares Node.js >=10).

Does file-type work in Bun?

Yes. import "file-type" loaded successfully in Bun 1.4.0 on Sep 9, 2026.

Does file-type ship TypeScript types?

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

Links

Other esm-only packages

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