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

Koa web app framework

Last verified Sep 9, 2026 against koa@3.2.1. Markdown · JSON

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

koa publishes both a CommonJS entry and a native ESM entry (ESM added in 2.13.0). require("koa") works on every Node.js version we test (18, 20, 22, 24 and 26) and in Bun. The package declares Node.js >= 18. import "koa" works alongside it.

What to do

  1. Nothing to change. require("koa") works on every Node.js version we test (18, 20, 22, 24 and 26) and in Bun. The package declares Node.js >= 18. import * as koa from "koa" works alongside it; use named imports for what the ESM entry exports.
  2. TypeScript: npm install -D @types/koa
Latest
3.2.1 (May 21, 2026)
Module format
Dual (CommonJS + ESM)
Last CommonJS version
3.2.1
Native ESM since
2.13.0
TypeScript types
@types/koa
Node engines
>= 18
Weekly downloads
6.8M
License
MIT

Does koa@3.2.1 actually load? Runtime test results

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

Runtimerequire("koa")import "koa"
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 koa

ES modules (import)

import * as koa from "koa";

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

CommonJS (require)

const koa = require("koa");

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 (111 versions; the newest 60 shown).

VersionsFormatFirst published
2.13.0 – 3.2.1Dual (CommonJS + ESM)Jun 21, 2020
1.2.5 – 2.12.1CommonJSFeb 11, 2017

Frequently asked

Is koa ESM-only?

koa@3.2.1 ships CommonJS and ESM builds. koa publishes both a CommonJS entry and a native ESM entry (ESM added in 2.13.0). require("koa") works on every Node.js version we test (18, 20, 22, 24 and 26) and in Bun. The package declares Node.js >= 18. import "koa" works alongside it.

Can I require koa?

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

Does koa work in Bun?

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

Does koa ship TypeScript types?

Not bundled. Install the community types with "npm install -D @types/koa".

Links

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