# Is md5 ESM-only? Can you require() it?

> md5@2.3.0 is a CommonJS package. CommonJS — require() works on every Node.js version we test.

js function for hashing messages with MD5

Last verified Sep 9, 2026 against md5@2.3.0.

md5 ships CommonJS only. require("md5") works on every Node.js version we test (18, 20, 22, 24 and 26) and in Bun. import "md5" 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("md5") works on every Node.js version we test (18, 20, 22, 24 and 26) and in Bun.
2. From ES modules use the default import: import md5 from "md5"; then destructure. Named imports only work when Node.js can statically detect the exports.
3. TypeScript: npm install -D @types/md5

## Facts

- Latest: 2.3.0 (Aug 2, 2020)
- Module format: CommonJS
- Last CommonJS version: 2.3.0
- TypeScript types: @types/md5
- Node engines: not declared
- Weekly downloads: 15.5M
- License: BSD-3-Clause

## Runtime test results for md5@2.3.0

Installed and executed on Sep 9, 2026 with require("md5") from a CommonJS file and import "md5" from an ES module.

| Runtime | require("md5") | import "md5" |
|---|---|---|
| Node.js 18 | works | 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 md5

ES modules:

```js
import md5 from "md5";
```

CommonJS:

```js
const md5 = require("md5");
```

## Module format by version

Derived from the type, main and exports fields of every stable release on npm (7 versions; the newest 7 shown).

| Versions | Format | First published |
|---|---|---|
| 1.0.0 – 2.3.0 | CommonJS | May 13, 2012 |

## Frequently asked

**Is md5 ESM-only?**

md5@2.3.0 is a CommonJS package. md5 ships CommonJS only. require("md5") works on every Node.js version we test (18, 20, 22, 24 and 26) and in Bun. import "md5" 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 md5 with ES module syntax?**

Yes. import md5 from "md5" 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 md5 work in Bun?**

Yes. import "md5" loaded successfully in Bun 1.4.0 on Sep 9, 2026.

**Does md5 ship TypeScript types?**

Not bundled. Install the community types with "npm install -D @types/md5".

## Links

- [md5 on npm](https://www.npmjs.com/package/md5)
- [Source repository](https://github.com/pvorb/node-md5)
- [HTML version](https://canirequire.com/package/md5/)
- [JSON version](https://canirequire.com/package/md5.json)

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