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Is magic-string ESM-only? Can you require() it?

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Last verified Sep 9, 2026 against magic-string@1.2.3. Markdown · JSON

ESM-only ESM-only since 1.0.0 — last CommonJS version is 0.30.21

magic-string dropped its CommonJS build in 1.0.0 (July 2026). The last version with a plain require()-able CommonJS entry is 0.30.21, published Oct 24, 2025.

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

What to do

  1. On Node.js 20.19+, 22.12+ and newer, require("magic-string") 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 magicString = await import("magic-string"). That works on every Node.js version the package supports.
  3. If you need a synchronous require() or run Node.js 18: npm install magic-string@0.30.21, the last CommonJS release (published Oct 24, 2025).
  4. TypeScript: types are bundled; install nothing extra.
Latest
1.2.3 (Aug 26, 2026)
Module format
ESM-only
Last CommonJS version
0.30.21
ESM-only since
1.0.0 (Jul 16, 2026)
TypeScript types
Bundled
Node engines
not declared
Weekly downloads
174.5M
License
MIT

Does magic-string@1.2.3 actually load? Runtime test results

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

Runtimerequire("magic-string")import "magic-string"
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 magic-string

ES modules (import)

import * as magicString from "magic-string";

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 magicString = require("magic-string");

// Any Node.js version the package supports, from an async function:
async function main() {
  const magicString = await import("magic-string");
}

// Or pin the last CommonJS release:
// npm install magic-string@0.30.21

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 (130 versions; the newest 60 shown).

VersionsFormatFirst published
1.0.0 – 1.2.3ESM-onlyJul 16, 2026
0.26.0 – 0.30.21Dual (CommonJS + ESM)Mar 3, 2022
0.22.0 – 0.25.9CommonJSJul 7, 2017

Frequently asked

Is magic-string ESM-only?

magic-string@1.2.3 is ESM-only. magic-string dropped its CommonJS build in 1.0.0 (July 2026). The last version with a plain require()-able CommonJS entry is 0.30.21, published Oct 24, 2025.

Which version of magic-string still supports CommonJS / require()?

0.30.21 is the last version of magic-string with a CommonJS build. Install it with "npm install magic-string@0.30.21". Every version from 1.0.0 on is ESM-only.

How do I use magic-string from a CommonJS file?

From a CommonJS file, use a dynamic import inside an async function: const magicString = await import("magic-string"). That works on every Node.js version the package supports. On Node.js 20.19+, 22.12+ and newer, require("magic-string") works with the latest version: Node.js loads synchronous ES modules through require(). Verified on Node.js 20, 22, 24 and 26. Alternatively pin magic-string@0.30.21.

Does magic-string work in Bun?

Yes. import "magic-string" loaded successfully in Bun 1.4.0 on Sep 9, 2026.

Does magic-string ship TypeScript types?

Yes. magic-string bundles its own type declarations; no @types package is needed.

Links

Other esm-only packages

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