# Is make-fetch-happen ESM-only? Can you require() it?

> make-fetch-happen@16.0.1 is a CommonJS package. CommonJS — require() works on Node.js 20, 22, 24 and 26, fails on 18.

Opinionated, caching, retrying fetch client

Last verified Sep 9, 2026 against make-fetch-happen@16.0.1.

make-fetch-happen ships CommonJS only. require("make-fetch-happen") works on Node.js 20, 22, 24 and 26 but fails on Node.js 18 (ERR_REQUIRE_ESM). The package declares Node.js ^22.22.2 || ^24.15.0 || >=26.0.0. import "make-fetch-happen" also works because Node.js and Bun can import CommonJS from ES modules, but only the default export is guaranteed; named imports depend on Node's static analysis of the module.

## What to do

1. require("make-fetch-happen") works on Node.js 20, 22, 24 and 26 but fails on Node.js 18 (ERR_REQUIRE_ESM). The package declares Node.js ^22.22.2 || ^24.15.0 || >=26.0.0.
2. From ES modules use the default import: import makeFetchHappen from "make-fetch-happen"; then destructure. Named imports only work when Node.js can statically detect the exports.
3. TypeScript: npm install -D @types/make-fetch-happen

## Facts

- Latest: 16.0.1 (May 26, 2026)
- Module format: CommonJS
- Last CommonJS version: 16.0.1
- TypeScript types: @types/make-fetch-happen
- Node engines: ^22.22.2 || ^24.15.0 || >=26.0.0
- Weekly downloads: 22.8M
- License: ISC

## Runtime test results for make-fetch-happen@16.0.1

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

| Runtime | require("make-fetch-happen") | import "make-fetch-happen" |
|---|---|---|
| Node.js 18 | fails (ERR_REQUIRE_ESM) | fails (ERR_REQUIRE_ESM) |
| 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 make-fetch-happen

ES modules:

```js
import makeFetchHappen from "make-fetch-happen";
```

CommonJS:

```js
const makeFetchHappen = require("make-fetch-happen");
```

## Module format by version

Derived from the type, main and exports fields of every stable release on npm (118 versions; the newest 60 shown).

| Versions | Format | First published |
|---|---|---|
| 8.0.2 – 16.0.1 | CommonJS | Feb 24, 2020 |

## Frequently asked

**Is make-fetch-happen ESM-only?**

make-fetch-happen@16.0.1 is a CommonJS package. make-fetch-happen ships CommonJS only. require("make-fetch-happen") works on Node.js 20, 22, 24 and 26 but fails on Node.js 18 (ERR_REQUIRE_ESM). The package declares Node.js ^22.22.2 || ^24.15.0 || >=26.0.0. import "make-fetch-happen" also works because Node.js and Bun can import CommonJS from ES modules, but only the default export is guaranteed; named imports depend on Node's static analysis of the module.

**Can I import make-fetch-happen with ES module syntax?**

Yes. import makeFetchHappen from "make-fetch-happen" works in Node.js and Bun because they support importing CommonJS modules. Named imports work only when Node.js can statically detect the exports.

**Does make-fetch-happen work in Bun?**

Yes. import "make-fetch-happen" loaded successfully in Bun 1.4.0 on Sep 9, 2026.

**Does make-fetch-happen ship TypeScript types?**

Not bundled. Install the community types with "npm install -D @types/make-fetch-happen".

## Links

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

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