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

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Last verified Sep 9, 2026 against less@4.9.1. Markdown · JSON

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

less publishes both a CommonJS entry and a native ESM entry (ESM added in 4.6.0). require("less") works on every Node.js version we test (18, 20, 22, 24 and 26) and in Bun. The package declares Node.js >=18. import "less" works alongside it.

What to do

  1. Nothing to change. require("less") 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 less from "less" works alongside it; use named imports for what the ESM entry exports.
  2. TypeScript: npm install -D @types/less
Latest
4.9.1 (Sep 2, 2026)
Module format
Dual (CommonJS + ESM)
Last CommonJS version
4.9.1
Native ESM since
4.6.0
TypeScript types
@types/less
Node engines
>=18
Weekly downloads
7.5M
License
Apache-2.0

Does less@4.9.1 actually load? Runtime test results

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

Runtimerequire("less")import "less"
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 less

ES modules (import)

import * as less from "less";

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

CommonJS (require)

const less = require("less");

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 (110 versions; the newest 60 shown).

VersionsFormatFirst published
4.6.1 – 4.9.1Dual (CommonJS + ESM)Mar 10, 2026
4.6.0ESM-onlyMar 10, 2026
2.5.3 – 4.5.1CommonJSSep 25, 2015

Frequently asked

Is less ESM-only?

less@4.9.1 ships CommonJS and ESM builds. less publishes both a CommonJS entry and a native ESM entry (ESM added in 4.6.0). require("less") works on every Node.js version we test (18, 20, 22, 24 and 26) and in Bun. The package declares Node.js >=18. import "less" works alongside it.

Can I require less?

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

Does less work in Bun?

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

Does less ship TypeScript types?

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

Links

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