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

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Last verified Sep 9, 2026 against jose@6.2.12. Markdown · JSON

ESM-only ESM-only since 6.0.0 — last CommonJS version is 5.10.0

jose dropped its CommonJS build in 6.0.0 (February 2025). The last version with a plain require()-able CommonJS entry is 5.10.0, published Feb 17, 2025.

On Node.js 20.19+, 22.12+ and newer, require("jose") 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("jose") fails with ERR_REQUIRE_ESM.

What to do

  1. On Node.js 20.19+, 22.12+ and newer, require("jose") 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 jose = await import("jose"). That works on every Node.js version the package supports.
  3. If you need a synchronous require() or run Node.js 18: npm install jose@5.10.0, the last CommonJS release (published Feb 17, 2025).
  4. TypeScript: types are bundled; install nothing extra.
Latest
6.2.12 (Sep 5, 2026)
Module format
ESM-only
Last CommonJS version
5.10.0
ESM-only since
6.0.0 (Feb 22, 2025)
TypeScript types
Bundled
Node engines
not declared
Weekly downloads
116.5M
License
MIT

Does jose@6.2.12 actually load? Runtime test results

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

Runtimerequire("jose")import "jose"
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 jose

ES modules (import)

import * as jose from "jose";

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 jose = require("jose");

// Any Node.js version the package supports, from an async function:
async function main() {
  const jose = await import("jose");
}

// Or pin the last CommonJS release:
// npm install jose@5.10.0

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 (244 versions; the newest 60 shown).

VersionsFormatFirst published
6.0.0 – 6.2.12ESM-onlyFeb 22, 2025
5.0.1 – 5.10.0Dual (CommonJS + ESM)Oct 25, 2023

Frequently asked

Is jose ESM-only?

jose@6.2.12 is ESM-only. jose dropped its CommonJS build in 6.0.0 (February 2025). The last version with a plain require()-able CommonJS entry is 5.10.0, published Feb 17, 2025.

Which version of jose still supports CommonJS / require()?

5.10.0 is the last version of jose with a CommonJS build. Install it with "npm install jose@5.10.0". Every version from 6.0.0 on is ESM-only.

How do I use jose from a CommonJS file?

From a CommonJS file, use a dynamic import inside an async function: const jose = await import("jose"). That works on every Node.js version the package supports. On Node.js 20.19+, 22.12+ and newer, require("jose") works with the latest version: Node.js loads synchronous ES modules through require(). Verified on Node.js 20, 22, 24 and 26. Alternatively pin jose@5.10.0.

Does jose work in Bun?

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

Does jose ship TypeScript types?

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

Links

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