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Is is-interactive ESM-only? Can you require() it?

Check if stdout or stderr is interactive

Last verified Sep 9, 2026 against is-interactive@2.0.0. Markdown · JSON

ESM-only ESM-only since 2.0.0 — last CommonJS version is 1.0.0

is-interactive dropped its CommonJS build in 2.0.0 (May 2021). The last version with a plain require()-able CommonJS entry is 1.0.0, published Jul 21, 2019; it declares support for Node.js >=8.

On Node.js 20.19+, 22.12+ and newer, require("is-interactive") works with the latest version: Node.js loads synchronous ES modules through require(). Verified on Node.js 20, 22, 24 and 26. On Node.js 18, which has no require(esm), require("is-interactive") fails with ERR_REQUIRE_ESM.

What to do

  1. On Node.js 20.19+, 22.12+ and newer, require("is-interactive") works with the latest version: Node.js loads synchronous ES modules through require(). Verified on Node.js 20, 22, 24 and 26.
  2. From a CommonJS file, use a dynamic import inside an async function: const isInteractive = await import("is-interactive"). That works on every Node.js version the package supports (>=12).
  3. If you need a synchronous require() or run Node.js 18: npm install is-interactive@1.0.0, the last CommonJS release (published Jul 21, 2019); it declares Node.js >=8.
  4. TypeScript: no types are available for is-interactive; declare the module yourself if you need them.
Latest
2.0.0 (May 3, 2021)
Module format
ESM-only
Last CommonJS version
1.0.0
ESM-only since
2.0.0 (May 3, 2021)
TypeScript types
None
Node engines
>=12
Weekly downloads
60.6M
License
MIT

Does is-interactive@2.0.0 actually load? Runtime test results

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

Runtimerequire("is-interactive")import "is-interactive"
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 1.4.0✓ works✓ works

How to import is-interactive

ES modules (import)

import * as isInteractive from "is-interactive";

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

CommonJS (require)

// Node.js 20.19+, 22.12+ and newer (verified):
const isInteractive = require("is-interactive");

// Any Node.js version the package supports (>=12), from an async function:
async function main() {
  const isInteractive = await import("is-interactive");
}

// Or pin the last CommonJS release (declares Node.js >=8):
// npm install is-interactive@1.0.0

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 (3 versions; the newest 3 shown).

VersionsFormatFirst published
2.0.0ESM-onlyMay 3, 2021
0.1.0 – 1.0.0CommonJSJul 6, 2019

Frequently asked

Is is-interactive ESM-only?

is-interactive@2.0.0 is ESM-only. is-interactive dropped its CommonJS build in 2.0.0 (May 2021). The last version with a plain require()-able CommonJS entry is 1.0.0, published Jul 21, 2019; it declares support for Node.js >=8.

Which version of is-interactive still supports CommonJS / require()?

1.0.0 is the last version of is-interactive with a CommonJS build; it declares Node.js >=8. Install it with "npm install is-interactive@1.0.0". Every version from 2.0.0 on is ESM-only.

How do I use is-interactive from a CommonJS file?

From a CommonJS file, use a dynamic import inside an async function: const isInteractive = await import("is-interactive"). That works on every Node.js version the package supports (>=12). On Node.js 20.19+, 22.12+ and newer, require("is-interactive") works with the latest version: Node.js loads synchronous ES modules through require(). Verified on Node.js 20, 22, 24 and 26. Alternatively pin is-interactive@1.0.0 (declares Node.js >=8).

Does is-interactive work in Bun?

Yes. import "is-interactive" loaded successfully in Bun 1.4.0 on Sep 9, 2026.

Does is-interactive ship TypeScript types?

No. is-interactive ships no type declarations and there is no @types package for it.

Links

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