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Is locate-path ESM-only? Can you require() it?

Get the first path that exists on disk of multiple paths

Last verified Sep 9, 2026 against locate-path@8.0.0. Markdown · JSON

ESM-only ESM-only since 7.0.0 — last CommonJS version is 6.0.0

locate-path dropped its CommonJS build in 7.0.0 (August 2021). The last version with a plain require()-able CommonJS entry is 6.0.0, published Aug 10, 2020; it declares support for Node.js >=10.

On Node.js 20.19+, 22.12+ and newer, require("locate-path") works with the latest version: Node.js loads synchronous ES modules through require(). Verified on Node.js 20, 22, 24 and 26. Node.js 18 has no require(esm), and locate-path@8.0.0 declares Node.js >=20, so 18 is outside its supported range anyway.

locate-path@8.0.0 declares engines ">=20", so Node.js 18 is outside its supported range regardless of module format.

What to do

  1. On Node.js 20.19+, 22.12+ and newer, require("locate-path") 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 locatePath = await import("locate-path"). That works on every Node.js version the package supports (>=20).
  3. If you need a synchronous require() or run Node.js 18: npm install locate-path@6.0.0, the last CommonJS release (published Aug 10, 2020); it declares Node.js >=10.
  4. locate-path@8.0.0 declares engines ">=20", so Node.js 18 is unsupported regardless: upgrade Node.js or pin an older release.
  5. TypeScript: types are bundled; install nothing extra.
Latest
8.0.0 (Sep 15, 2025)
Module format
ESM-only
Last CommonJS version
6.0.0
ESM-only since
7.0.0 (Aug 25, 2021)
TypeScript types
Bundled
Node engines
>=20
Weekly downloads
217.6M
License
MIT

Does locate-path@8.0.0 actually load? Runtime test results

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

Runtimerequire("locate-path")import "locate-path"
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 locate-path

ES modules (import)

import * as locatePath from "locate-path";

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 locatePath = require("locate-path");

// Any Node.js version the package supports (>=20), from an async function:
async function main() {
  const locatePath = await import("locate-path");
}

// Or pin the last CommonJS release (declares Node.js >=10):
// npm install locate-path@6.0.0

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 (12 versions; the newest 12 shown).

VersionsFormatFirst published
7.0.0 – 8.0.0ESM-onlyAug 25, 2021
1.0.0 – 6.0.0CommonJSNov 20, 2016

Frequently asked

Is locate-path ESM-only?

locate-path@8.0.0 is ESM-only. locate-path dropped its CommonJS build in 7.0.0 (August 2021). The last version with a plain require()-able CommonJS entry is 6.0.0, published Aug 10, 2020; it declares support for Node.js >=10.

Which version of locate-path still supports CommonJS / require()?

6.0.0 is the last version of locate-path with a CommonJS build; it declares Node.js >=10. Install it with "npm install locate-path@6.0.0". Every version from 7.0.0 on is ESM-only.

How do I use locate-path from a CommonJS file?

From a CommonJS file, use a dynamic import inside an async function: const locatePath = await import("locate-path"). That works on every Node.js version the package supports (>=20). On Node.js 20.19+, 22.12+ and newer, require("locate-path") works with the latest version: Node.js loads synchronous ES modules through require(). Verified on Node.js 20, 22, 24 and 26. Alternatively pin locate-path@6.0.0 (declares Node.js >=10).

Does locate-path work in Bun?

Yes. import "locate-path" loaded successfully in Bun 1.4.0 on Sep 9, 2026.

Does locate-path ship TypeScript types?

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

Links

Other esm-only packages

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