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

User-friendly glob matching

Last verified Sep 9, 2026 against globby@16.2.4. JSON

ESM-only ESM-only since 12.0.0 — last CommonJS version is 11.1.0

globby dropped its CommonJS build in 12.0.0 (July 2021). The last version you can require() on every Node.js version, including 18 and older, is 11.1.0, published Jan 8, 2022.

On Node.js 20.19+, 22.12+ and every newer release, require("globby") 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.

globby@16.2.4 declares engines ">=20", so Node.js 18 is outside its supported range regardless of module format.

Latest
16.2.4 (Aug 19, 2026)
Module format
ESM-only
Last CommonJS version
11.1.0
ESM-only since
12.0.0 (Jul 22, 2021)
TypeScript types
Bundled
Node engines
>=20
Weekly downloads
83.1M
License
MIT

Does globby@16.2.4 actually load? Runtime test results

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

Runtimerequire("globby")import "globby"
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 globby

ES modules (import)

import globby from "globby";

CommonJS (require)

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

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

// Or pin the last CommonJS release:
// npm install globby@11.1.0

Module format by version

Derived from the type, main and exports fields of every stable release on npm (59 versions; the newest 59 shown).

VersionsFormatFirst published
12.0.0 – 16.2.4ESM-onlyJul 22, 2021
0.1.0 – 11.1.0CommonJSJun 21, 2014

Frequently asked

Is globby ESM-only?

globby@16.2.4 is ESM-only. globby dropped its CommonJS build in 12.0.0 (July 2021). The last version you can require() on every Node.js version, including 18 and older, is 11.1.0, published Jan 8, 2022.

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

11.1.0 is the last version of globby with a CommonJS build. Install it with "npm install globby@11.1.0". Every version from 12.0.0 on is ESM-only.

How do I use globby from a CommonJS file?

Use a dynamic import: const mod = await import("globby"). On Node.js 20.19+, 22.12+ and newer, a plain require("globby") also works for ESM packages that do not use top-level await. Alternatively pin globby@11.1.0.

Does globby work in Bun?

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

Does globby ship TypeScript types?

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

Links

Other esm-only packages

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