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

Handlebars provides the power necessary to let you build semantic templates effectively with no frustration

Last verified Sep 9, 2026 against handlebars@4.7.9. Markdown · JSON

CommonJS CommonJS — require() works on every Node.js version we test

handlebars ships CommonJS only. require("handlebars") works on every Node.js version we test (18, 20, 22, 24 and 26) and in Bun. The package declares Node.js >=0.4.7. import "handlebars" also works because Node.js and Bun can import CommonJS from ES modules, but only the default export is guaranteed; named imports depend on Node's static analysis of the module.

What to do

  1. require("handlebars") works on every Node.js version we test (18, 20, 22, 24 and 26) and in Bun. The package declares Node.js >=0.4.7.
  2. From ES modules use the default import: import handlebars from "handlebars"; then destructure. Named imports only work when Node.js can statically detect the exports.
  3. TypeScript: types are bundled; install nothing extra.
Latest
4.7.9 (Mar 26, 2026)
Module format
CommonJS
Last CommonJS version
4.7.9
TypeScript types
Bundled
Node engines
>=0.4.7
Weekly downloads
28.8M
License
MIT

Does handlebars@4.7.9 actually load? Runtime test results

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

Runtimerequire("handlebars")import "handlebars"
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 handlebars

ES modules (import)

import handlebars from "handlebars";

Named imports from a CommonJS package only work when Node.js can statically detect them. If a named import fails, use the default import and destructure.

CommonJS (require)

const handlebars = require("handlebars");

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 (71 versions; the newest 60 shown).

VersionsFormatFirst published
1.2.1 – 4.7.9CommonJSDec 26, 2013

Frequently asked

Is handlebars ESM-only?

handlebars@4.7.9 is a CommonJS package. handlebars ships CommonJS only. require("handlebars") works on every Node.js version we test (18, 20, 22, 24 and 26) and in Bun. The package declares Node.js >=0.4.7. import "handlebars" also works because Node.js and Bun can import CommonJS from ES modules, but only the default export is guaranteed; named imports depend on Node's static analysis of the module.

Can I import handlebars with ES module syntax?

Yes. import handlebars from "handlebars" works in Node.js and Bun because they support importing CommonJS modules. Named imports work only when Node.js can statically detect the exports.

Does handlebars work in Bun?

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

Does handlebars ship TypeScript types?

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

Links

Other commonjs packages

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