# Is foreground-child ESM-only? Can you require() it?

> foreground-child@4.0.3 ships CommonJS and ESM builds. Dual package — require() works on every Node.js version we test; import works too.

Run a child as if it's the foreground process. Give it stdio. Exit when it exits.

Last verified Sep 9, 2026 against foreground-child@4.0.3.

foreground-child publishes both a CommonJS entry and a native ESM entry (ESM added in 3.0.0). require("foreground-child") works on every Node.js version we test (18, 20, 22, 24 and 26) and in Bun. The package declares Node.js >=16. import "foreground-child" works alongside it.

## What to do

1. Nothing to change. require("foreground-child") works on every Node.js version we test (18, 20, 22, 24 and 26) and in Bun. The package declares Node.js >=16. import * as foregroundChild from "foreground-child" works alongside it; use named imports for what the ESM entry exports.
2. TypeScript: types are bundled; install nothing extra.

## Facts

- Latest: 4.0.3 (Feb 6, 2026)
- Module format: Dual (CommonJS + ESM)
- Last CommonJS version: 4.0.3
- Native ESM since: 3.0.0
- TypeScript types: bundled
- Node engines: >=16
- Weekly downloads: 96.4M
- License: BlueOak-1.0.0

## Runtime test results for foreground-child@4.0.3

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

| Runtime | require("foreground-child") | import "foreground-child" |
|---|---|---|
| Node.js 18 | works | 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 foreground-child

ES modules:

```js
import * as foregroundChild from "foreground-child";
```

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

CommonJS:

```js
const foregroundChild = require("foreground-child");
```

## Module format by version

Derived from the type, main and exports fields of every stable release on npm (28 versions; the newest 28 shown).

| Versions | Format | First published |
|---|---|---|
| 3.0.0 – 4.0.3 | Dual (CommonJS + ESM) | Apr 17, 2023 |
| 1.0.0 – 2.0.0 | CommonJS | May 15, 2015 |

## Frequently asked

**Is foreground-child ESM-only?**

foreground-child@4.0.3 ships CommonJS and ESM builds. foreground-child publishes both a CommonJS entry and a native ESM entry (ESM added in 3.0.0). require("foreground-child") works on every Node.js version we test (18, 20, 22, 24 and 26) and in Bun. The package declares Node.js >=16. import "foreground-child" works alongside it.

**Can I require foreground-child?**

Yes. foreground-child ships a CommonJS entry alongside the native ESM entry. require("foreground-child") works on every Node.js version we test (18, 20, 22, 24 and 26) and in Bun. The package declares Node.js >=16.

**Does foreground-child work in Bun?**

Yes. import "foreground-child" loaded successfully in Bun 1.4.0 on Sep 9, 2026.

**Does foreground-child ship TypeScript types?**

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

## Links

- [foreground-child on npm](https://www.npmjs.com/package/foreground-child)
- [Source repository](https://github.com/tapjs/foreground-child)
- [HTML version](https://canirequire.com/package/foreground-child/)
- [JSON version](https://canirequire.com/package/foreground-child.json)

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