# Is html-encoding-sniffer ESM-only? Can you require() it?

> html-encoding-sniffer@6.0.0 is a CommonJS package. CommonJS — require() works on Node.js 20, 22, 24 and 26, fails on 18.

Sniff the encoding from a HTML byte stream

Last verified Sep 9, 2026 against html-encoding-sniffer@6.0.0.

html-encoding-sniffer ships CommonJS only. require("html-encoding-sniffer") works on Node.js 20, 22, 24 and 26 but fails on Node.js 18 (ERR_REQUIRE_ESM). The package declares Node.js ^20.19.0 || ^22.12.0 || >=24.0.0. import "html-encoding-sniffer" 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("html-encoding-sniffer") works on Node.js 20, 22, 24 and 26 but fails on Node.js 18 (ERR_REQUIRE_ESM). The package declares Node.js ^20.19.0 || ^22.12.0 || >=24.0.0.
2. From ES modules use the default import: import htmlEncodingSniffer from "html-encoding-sniffer"; then destructure. Named imports only work when Node.js can statically detect the exports.
3. TypeScript: npm install -D @types/html-encoding-sniffer

## Facts

- Latest: 6.0.0 (Dec 26, 2025)
- Module format: CommonJS
- Last CommonJS version: 6.0.0
- TypeScript types: @types/html-encoding-sniffer
- Node engines: ^20.19.0 || ^22.12.0 || >=24.0.0
- Weekly downloads: 85.4M
- License: MIT

## Runtime test results for html-encoding-sniffer@6.0.0

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

| Runtime | require("html-encoding-sniffer") | import "html-encoding-sniffer" |
|---|---|---|
| Node.js 18 | fails (ERR_REQUIRE_ESM) | fails (ERR_REQUIRE_ESM) |
| 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 html-encoding-sniffer

ES modules:

```js
import htmlEncodingSniffer from "html-encoding-sniffer";
```

CommonJS:

```js
const htmlEncodingSniffer = require("html-encoding-sniffer");
```

## Module format by version

Derived from the type, main and exports fields of every stable release on npm (9 versions; the newest 9 shown).

| Versions | Format | First published |
|---|---|---|
| 1.0.0 – 6.0.0 | CommonJS | Oct 16, 2016 |

## Frequently asked

**Is html-encoding-sniffer ESM-only?**

html-encoding-sniffer@6.0.0 is a CommonJS package. html-encoding-sniffer ships CommonJS only. require("html-encoding-sniffer") works on Node.js 20, 22, 24 and 26 but fails on Node.js 18 (ERR_REQUIRE_ESM). The package declares Node.js ^20.19.0 || ^22.12.0 || >=24.0.0. import "html-encoding-sniffer" 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 html-encoding-sniffer with ES module syntax?**

Yes. import htmlEncodingSniffer from "html-encoding-sniffer" 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 html-encoding-sniffer work in Bun?**

Yes. import "html-encoding-sniffer" loaded successfully in Bun 1.4.0 on Sep 9, 2026.

**Does html-encoding-sniffer ship TypeScript types?**

Not bundled. Install the community types with "npm install -D @types/html-encoding-sniffer".

## Links

- [html-encoding-sniffer on npm](https://www.npmjs.com/package/html-encoding-sniffer)
- [Source repository](https://github.com/jsdom/html-encoding-sniffer)
- [HTML version](https://canirequire.com/package/html-encoding-sniffer/)
- [JSON version](https://canirequire.com/package/html-encoding-sniffer.json)

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