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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. 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 you can require() on every Node.js version, including 18 and older, is 6.0.0, published Aug 10, 2020.

On Node.js 20.19+, 22.12+ and every newer release, require("locate-path") works anyway: Node can load synchronous ES modules through require(). Verified on Node 20, 22, 24, 26. Node.js 18 and older still fail with ERR_REQUIRE_ESM.

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

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✓ works✓ works

How to import locate-path

ES modules (import)

import locatePath from "locate-path";

CommonJS (require)

// Node.js 20.19+ / 22.12+ / newer (package has no top-level await):
const locatePath = require("locate-path");

// Any Node.js version:
const locatePath = await import("locate-path");

// Or pin the last CommonJS release:
// 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 (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 you can require() on every Node.js version, including 18 and older, is 6.0.0, published Aug 10, 2020.

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

6.0.0 is the last version of locate-path with a CommonJS build. 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?

Use a dynamic import: const mod = await import("locate-path"). On Node.js 20.19+, 22.12+ and newer, a plain require("locate-path") also works for ESM packages that do not use top-level await. Alternatively pin locate-path@6.0.0.

Does locate-path work in Bun?

Yes. import "locate-path" loaded successfully in Bun 1.4 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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