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Is i18next ESM-only? Can you require() it?

i18next internationalization framework

Last verified Sep 9, 2026 against i18next@26.4.2. Markdown · JSON

Dual (CommonJS + ESM) Dual package — require() works on every Node.js version we test; import works too

i18next publishes both a CommonJS entry and a native ESM entry (ESM added in 21.5.0). require("i18next") works on every Node.js version we test (18, 20, 22, 24 and 26) and in Bun. import "i18next" works alongside it.

What to do

  1. Nothing to change. require("i18next") works on every Node.js version we test (18, 20, 22, 24 and 26) and in Bun. import * as i18next from "i18next" works alongside it; use named imports for what the ESM entry exports.
  2. TypeScript: types are bundled; install nothing extra.
Latest
26.4.2 (Sep 3, 2026)
Module format
Dual (CommonJS + ESM)
Last CommonJS version
26.4.2
Native ESM since
21.5.0
TypeScript types
Bundled
Node engines
not declared
Weekly downloads
19.7M
License
MIT

Does i18next@26.4.2 actually load? Runtime test results

Installed and executed on Sep 9, 2026 with require("i18next") from a CommonJS file and import "i18next" from an ES module.

Runtimerequire("i18next")import "i18next"
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 i18next

ES modules (import)

import * as i18next from "i18next";

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

CommonJS (require)

const i18next = require("i18next");

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 (583 versions; the newest 60 shown).

VersionsFormatFirst published
25.7.1 – 26.4.2Dual (CommonJS + ESM)Dec 1, 2025

Frequently asked

Is i18next ESM-only?

i18next@26.4.2 ships CommonJS and ESM builds. i18next publishes both a CommonJS entry and a native ESM entry (ESM added in 21.5.0). require("i18next") works on every Node.js version we test (18, 20, 22, 24 and 26) and in Bun. import "i18next" works alongside it.

Can I require i18next?

Yes. i18next ships a CommonJS entry alongside the native ESM entry. require("i18next") works on every Node.js version we test (18, 20, 22, 24 and 26) and in Bun.

Does i18next work in Bun?

Yes. import "i18next" loaded successfully in Bun 1.4.0 on Sep 9, 2026.

Does i18next ship TypeScript types?

Yes. i18next bundles its own type declarations; no @types package is needed.

Links

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