# Is lit-element ESM-only? Can you require() it?

> lit-element@4.2.2 is ESM-only. ESM-only — it has never shipped a CommonJS build.

A simple base class for creating fast, lightweight web components

Last verified Sep 9, 2026 against lit-element@4.2.2.

lit-element has been ESM-only since its first stable release; there is no CommonJS version to pin.

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

## What to do

1. On Node.js 20.19+, 22.12+ and newer, require("lit-element") 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 litElement = await import("lit-element"). That works on every Node.js version the package supports.
3. There is no CommonJS release of lit-element to pin; without require(esm) the only option is a dynamic import().
4. TypeScript: types are bundled; install nothing extra.

## Facts

- Latest: 4.2.2 (Dec 23, 2025)
- Module format: ESM-only
- Last CommonJS version: none
- ESM-only since: 0.1.0 (Sep 8, 2017)
- TypeScript types: bundled
- Node engines: not declared
- Weekly downloads: 5.8M
- License: BSD-3-Clause

## Runtime test results for lit-element@4.2.2

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

| Runtime | require("lit-element") | import "lit-element" |
|---|---|---|
| Node.js 18 | fails (ERR_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 lit-element

ES modules:

```js
import * as litElement from "lit-element";
```

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

CommonJS:

```js
// Node.js 20.19+, 22.12+ and newer (verified):
const litElement = require("lit-element");

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

## Module format by version

Derived from the type, main and exports fields of every stable release on npm (58 versions; the newest 58 shown).

| Versions | Format | First published |
|---|---|---|
| 0.1.0 – 4.2.2 | ESM-only | Sep 8, 2017 |

## Frequently asked

**Is lit-element ESM-only?**

lit-element@4.2.2 is ESM-only. lit-element has been ESM-only since its first stable release; there is no CommonJS version to pin.

**Which version of lit-element still supports CommonJS / require()?**

None. lit-element has always been ESM-only. Use import, or a dynamic import("lit-element") from an async function in CommonJS.

**How do I use lit-element from a CommonJS file?**

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

**Does lit-element work in Bun?**

Yes. import "lit-element" loaded successfully in Bun 1.4.0 on Sep 9, 2026.

**Does lit-element ship TypeScript types?**

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

## Links

- [lit-element on npm](https://www.npmjs.com/package/lit-element)
- [Source repository](https://github.com/lit/lit)
- [HTML version](https://canirequire.com/package/lit-element/)
- [JSON version](https://canirequire.com/package/lit-element.json)

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