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

> is-symbol@1.1.1 is a CommonJS package. CommonJS — require() works on every Node.js version we test.

Determine if a value is an ES6 Symbol or not.

Last verified Sep 9, 2026 against is-symbol@1.1.1.

is-symbol ships CommonJS only. require("is-symbol") works on every Node.js version we test (18, 20, 22, 24 and 26) and in Bun. The package declares Node.js >= 0.4. import "is-symbol" 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("is-symbol") works on every Node.js version we test (18, 20, 22, 24 and 26) and in Bun. The package declares Node.js >= 0.4.
2. From ES modules use the default import: import isSymbol from "is-symbol"; then destructure. Named imports only work when Node.js can statically detect the exports.
3. TypeScript: types are bundled; install nothing extra.

## Facts

- Latest: 1.1.1 (Dec 13, 2024)
- Module format: CommonJS
- Last CommonJS version: 1.1.1
- TypeScript types: bundled
- Node engines: >= 0.4
- Weekly downloads: 62.8M
- License: MIT

## Runtime test results for is-symbol@1.1.1

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

| Runtime | require("is-symbol") | import "is-symbol" |
|---|---|---|
| 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 is-symbol

ES modules:

```js
import isSymbol from "is-symbol";
```

CommonJS:

```js
const isSymbol = require("is-symbol");
```

## Module format by version

Derived from the type, main and exports fields of every stable release on npm (7 versions; the newest 7 shown).

| Versions | Format | First published |
|---|---|---|
| 1.0.0 – 1.1.1 | CommonJS | Jan 24, 2015 |

## Frequently asked

**Is is-symbol ESM-only?**

is-symbol@1.1.1 is a CommonJS package. is-symbol ships CommonJS only. require("is-symbol") works on every Node.js version we test (18, 20, 22, 24 and 26) and in Bun. The package declares Node.js >= 0.4. import "is-symbol" 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 is-symbol with ES module syntax?**

Yes. import isSymbol from "is-symbol" 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 is-symbol work in Bun?**

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

**Does is-symbol ship TypeScript types?**

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

## Links

- [is-symbol on npm](https://www.npmjs.com/package/is-symbol)
- [Source repository](https://github.com/inspect-js/is-symbol)
- [HTML version](https://canirequire.com/package/is-symbol/)
- [JSON version](https://canirequire.com/package/is-symbol.json)

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