# Is metro-react-native-babel-preset ESM-only? Can you require() it?

> metro-react-native-babel-preset@0.77.0 is a CommonJS package. CommonJS — require() works on every Node.js version we test.

Babel preset for React Native applications

Last verified Sep 9, 2026 against metro-react-native-babel-preset@0.77.0.

metro-react-native-babel-preset ships CommonJS only. require("metro-react-native-babel-preset") works on every Node.js version we test (18, 20, 22, 24 and 26) and in Bun. The package declares Node.js >=18. import "metro-react-native-babel-preset" 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.

**Deprecated:** Use @react-native/babel-preset instead

## What to do

1. require("metro-react-native-babel-preset") works on every Node.js version we test (18, 20, 22, 24 and 26) and in Bun. The package declares Node.js >=18.
2. From ES modules use the default import: import metroReactNativeBabelPreset from "metro-react-native-babel-preset"; then destructure. Named imports only work when Node.js can statically detect the exports.
3. TypeScript: no types are available for metro-react-native-babel-preset; declare the module yourself if you need them.
4. This package is deprecated: Use @react-native/babel-preset instead

## Facts

- Latest: 0.77.0 (Jul 6, 2023)
- Module format: CommonJS
- Last CommonJS version: 0.77.0
- TypeScript types: none
- Node engines: >=18
- Weekly downloads: 905K
- License: MIT

## Runtime test results for metro-react-native-babel-preset@0.77.0

Installed and executed on Sep 9, 2026 with require("metro-react-native-babel-preset") from a CommonJS file and import "metro-react-native-babel-preset" from an ES module.

| Runtime | require("metro-react-native-babel-preset") | import "metro-react-native-babel-preset" |
|---|---|---|
| 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 metro-react-native-babel-preset

ES modules:

```js
import metroReactNativeBabelPreset from "metro-react-native-babel-preset";
```

CommonJS:

```js
const metroReactNativeBabelPreset = require("metro-react-native-babel-preset");
```

## Module format by version

Derived from the type, main and exports fields of every stable release on npm (100 versions; the newest 60 shown).

| Versions | Format | First published |
|---|---|---|
| 0.56.3 – 0.77.0 | CommonJS | Oct 24, 2019 |

## Frequently asked

**Is metro-react-native-babel-preset ESM-only?**

metro-react-native-babel-preset@0.77.0 is a CommonJS package. metro-react-native-babel-preset ships CommonJS only. require("metro-react-native-babel-preset") works on every Node.js version we test (18, 20, 22, 24 and 26) and in Bun. The package declares Node.js >=18. import "metro-react-native-babel-preset" 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 metro-react-native-babel-preset with ES module syntax?**

Yes. import metroReactNativeBabelPreset from "metro-react-native-babel-preset" 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 metro-react-native-babel-preset work in Bun?**

Yes. import "metro-react-native-babel-preset" loaded successfully in Bun 1.4.0 on Sep 9, 2026.

**Does metro-react-native-babel-preset ship TypeScript types?**

No. metro-react-native-babel-preset ships no type declarations and there is no @types package for it.

## Links

- [metro-react-native-babel-preset on npm](https://www.npmjs.com/package/metro-react-native-babel-preset)
- [Source repository](https://github.com/facebook/metro)
- [HTML version](https://canirequire.com/package/metro-react-native-babel-preset/)
- [JSON version](https://canirequire.com/package/metro-react-native-babel-preset.json)

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