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

> minipass@7.1.3 ships CommonJS and ESM builds. Dual package — require() works on every Node.js version we test; import works too.

minimal implementation of a PassThrough stream

Last verified Sep 9, 2026 against minipass@7.1.3.

minipass publishes both a CommonJS entry and a native ESM entry (ESM added in 4.1.0). require("minipass") works on every Node.js version we test (18, 20, 22, 24 and 26) and in Bun. The package declares Node.js >=16 || 14 >=14.17. import "minipass" works alongside it.

## What to do

1. Nothing to change. require("minipass") works on every Node.js version we test (18, 20, 22, 24 and 26) and in Bun. The package declares Node.js >=16 || 14 >=14.17. import * as minipass from "minipass" works alongside it; use named imports for what the ESM entry exports.
2. TypeScript: types are bundled; install nothing extra.

## Facts

- Latest: 7.1.3 (Feb 19, 2026)
- Module format: Dual (CommonJS + ESM)
- Last CommonJS version: 7.1.3
- Native ESM since: 4.1.0
- TypeScript types: bundled
- Node engines: >=16 || 14 >=14.17
- Weekly downloads: 218.1M
- License: BlueOak-1.0.0

## Runtime test results for minipass@7.1.3

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

| Runtime | require("minipass") | import "minipass" |
|---|---|---|
| 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 minipass

ES modules:

```js
import * as minipass from "minipass";
```

Namespace import shown because the ESM entry may have no default export; use named imports for what it exports.

CommonJS:

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

## Module format by version

Derived from the type, main and exports fields of every stable release on npm (95 versions; the newest 60 shown).

| Versions | Format | First published |
|---|---|---|
| 4.1.0 – 7.1.3 | Dual (CommonJS + ESM) | Feb 22, 2023 |
| 2.6.0 – 4.0.3 | CommonJS | Sep 16, 2019 |

## Frequently asked

**Is minipass ESM-only?**

minipass@7.1.3 ships CommonJS and ESM builds. minipass publishes both a CommonJS entry and a native ESM entry (ESM added in 4.1.0). require("minipass") works on every Node.js version we test (18, 20, 22, 24 and 26) and in Bun. The package declares Node.js >=16 || 14 >=14.17. import "minipass" works alongside it.

**Can I require minipass?**

Yes. minipass ships a CommonJS entry alongside the native ESM entry. require("minipass") works on every Node.js version we test (18, 20, 22, 24 and 26) and in Bun. The package declares Node.js >=16 || 14 >=14.17.

**Does minipass work in Bun?**

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

**Does minipass ship TypeScript types?**

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

## Links

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

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