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Is mime ESM-only? Can you require() it?

A comprehensive library for mime-type mapping

Last verified Sep 9, 2026 against mime@4.1.0. JSON

ESM-only ESM-only since 4.0.0 — last CommonJS version is 3.0.0

mime dropped its CommonJS build in 4.0.0 (November 2023). The last version you can require() on every Node.js version, including 18 and older, is 3.0.0, published Nov 3, 2021.

On Node.js 20.19+, 22.12+ and every newer release, require("mime") 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.

Latest
4.1.0 (Sep 12, 2025)
Module format
ESM-only
Last CommonJS version
3.0.0
ESM-only since
4.0.0 (Nov 29, 2023)
TypeScript types
Bundled
Node engines
>=16
Weekly downloads
136.4M
License
MIT

Does mime@4.1.0 actually load? Runtime test results

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

Runtimerequire("mime")import "mime"
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 mime

ES modules (import)

import mime from "mime";

CommonJS (require)

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

// Any Node.js version:
const mime = await import("mime");

// Or pin the last CommonJS release:
// npm install mime@3.0.0

Module format by version

Derived from the type, main and exports fields of every stable release on npm (55 versions; the newest 55 shown).

VersionsFormatFirst published
4.0.0 – 4.1.0ESM-onlyNov 29, 2023
1.0.0 – 3.0.0CommonJSJan 20, 2011

Frequently asked

Is mime ESM-only?

mime@4.1.0 is ESM-only. mime dropped its CommonJS build in 4.0.0 (November 2023). The last version you can require() on every Node.js version, including 18 and older, is 3.0.0, published Nov 3, 2021.

Which version of mime still supports CommonJS / require()?

3.0.0 is the last version of mime with a CommonJS build. Install it with "npm install mime@3.0.0". Every version from 4.0.0 on is ESM-only.

How do I use mime from a CommonJS file?

Use a dynamic import: const mod = await import("mime"). On Node.js 20.19+, 22.12+ and newer, a plain require("mime") also works for ESM packages that do not use top-level await. Alternatively pin mime@3.0.0.

Does mime work in Bun?

Yes. import "mime" loaded successfully in Bun 1.4 on Sep 9, 2026.

Does mime ship TypeScript types?

Yes. mime bundles its own type declarations; no @types package is needed.

Links

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