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

> got@16.0.0 is ESM-only. ESM-only since 12.0.0 — last CommonJS version is 11.8.6.

Human-friendly and powerful HTTP request library for Node.js

Last verified Sep 9, 2026 against got@16.0.0.

got dropped its CommonJS build in 12.0.0 (December 2021). The last version with a plain require()-able CommonJS entry is 11.8.6, published Dec 8, 2022; it declares support for Node.js >=10.19.0.

On Node.js 22.12+ and newer (got@16.0.0 declares Node.js >=22), require("got") 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 got@16.0.0 declares Node.js >=22, so 18 is outside its supported range anyway.

got@16.0.0 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 (got@16.0.0 declares Node.js >=22), require("got") 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 got = await import("got"). 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 got@11.8.6, the last CommonJS release (published Dec 8, 2022); it declares Node.js >=10.19.0.
4. got@16.0.0 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.

## Facts

- Latest: 16.0.0 (Aug 30, 2026)
- Module format: ESM-only
- Last CommonJS version: 11.8.6
- ESM-only since: 12.0.0 (Dec 10, 2021)
- TypeScript types: bundled
- Node engines: >=22
- Weekly downloads: 27.6M
- License: MIT

## Runtime test results for got@16.0.0

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

| Runtime | require("got") | import "got" |
|---|---|---|
| Node.js 18 | fails (ERR_REQUIRE_ESM) | fails (SyntaxError) |
| 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 got

ES modules:

```js
import * as got from "got";
```

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

CommonJS:

```js
// Node.js 22.12+ and newer (verified):
const got = require("got");

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

// Or pin the last CommonJS release (declares Node.js >=10.19.0):
// npm install got@11.8.6
```

## Module format by version

Derived from the type, main and exports fields of every stable release on npm (186 versions; the newest 60 shown).

| Versions | Format | First published |
|---|---|---|
| 12.0.0 – 16.0.0 | ESM-only | Dec 10, 2021 |
| 11.6.1 – 11.8.6 | CommonJS | Sep 8, 2020 |

## Frequently asked

**Is got ESM-only?**

got@16.0.0 is ESM-only. got dropped its CommonJS build in 12.0.0 (December 2021). The last version with a plain require()-able CommonJS entry is 11.8.6, published Dec 8, 2022; it declares support for Node.js >=10.19.0.

**Which version of got still supports CommonJS / require()?**

11.8.6 is the last version of got with a CommonJS build; it declares Node.js >=10.19.0. Install it with "npm install got@11.8.6". Every version from 12.0.0 on is ESM-only.

**How do I use got from a CommonJS file?**

From a CommonJS file, use a dynamic import inside an async function: const got = await import("got"). That works on every Node.js version the package supports (>=22). On Node.js 22.12+ and newer (got@16.0.0 declares Node.js >=22), require("got") works with the latest version: Node.js loads synchronous ES modules through require(). Verified on Node.js 22, 24 and 26. Alternatively pin got@11.8.6 (declares Node.js >=10.19.0).

**Does got work in Bun?**

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

**Does got ship TypeScript types?**

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

## Links

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

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