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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. Markdown · 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 with a plain require()-able CommonJS entry is 3.0.0, published Nov 3, 2021; it declares support for Node.js >=10.0.0.

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

What to do

  1. On Node.js 20.19+, 22.12+ and newer, require("mime") 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 mime = await import("mime"). That works on every Node.js version the package supports (>=16).
  3. If you need a synchronous require() or run Node.js 18: npm install mime@3.0.0, the last CommonJS release (published Nov 3, 2021); it declares Node.js >=10.0.0.
  4. TypeScript: types are bundled; install nothing extra.
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 1.4.0✓ works✓ works

How to import mime

ES modules (import)

import * as mime from "mime";

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 mime = require("mime");

// Any Node.js version the package supports (>=16), from an async function:
async function main() {
  const mime = await import("mime");
}

// Or pin the last CommonJS release (declares Node.js >=10.0.0):
// npm install mime@3.0.0

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 (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 with a plain require()-able CommonJS entry is 3.0.0, published Nov 3, 2021; it declares support for Node.js >=10.0.0.

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

3.0.0 is the last version of mime with a CommonJS build; it declares Node.js >=10.0.0. 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?

From a CommonJS file, use a dynamic import inside an async function: const mime = await import("mime"). That works on every Node.js version the package supports (>=16). On Node.js 20.19+, 22.12+ and newer, require("mime") works with the latest version: Node.js loads synchronous ES modules through require(). Verified on Node.js 20, 22, 24 and 26. Alternatively pin mime@3.0.0 (declares Node.js >=10.0.0).

Does mime work in Bun?

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

Does mime ship TypeScript types?

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

Links

Other esm-only packages

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