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

> natural-compare@1.4.0 is a CommonJS package. CommonJS — require() works on every Node.js version we test.

Compare strings containing a mix of letters and numbers in the way a human being would in sort order.

Last verified Sep 9, 2026 against natural-compare@1.4.0.

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

## Facts

- Latest: 1.4.0 (Jul 22, 2016)
- Module format: CommonJS
- Last CommonJS version: 1.4.0
- TypeScript types: @types/natural-compare
- Node engines: not declared
- Weekly downloads: 125.5M
- License: MIT

## Runtime test results for natural-compare@1.4.0

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

| Runtime | require("natural-compare") | import "natural-compare" |
|---|---|---|
| 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 natural-compare

ES modules:

```js
import naturalCompare from "natural-compare";
```

CommonJS:

```js
const naturalCompare = require("natural-compare");
```

## Module format by version

Derived from the type, main and exports fields of every stable release on npm (2 versions; the newest 2 shown).

| Versions | Format | First published |
|---|---|---|
| 1.2.2 – 1.4.0 | CommonJS | Nov 18, 2014 |

## Frequently asked

**Is natural-compare ESM-only?**

natural-compare@1.4.0 is a CommonJS package. natural-compare ships CommonJS only. require("natural-compare") works on every Node.js version we test (18, 20, 22, 24 and 26) and in Bun. import "natural-compare" 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 natural-compare with ES module syntax?**

Yes. import naturalCompare from "natural-compare" 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 natural-compare work in Bun?**

Yes. import "natural-compare" loaded successfully in Bun 1.4.0 on Sep 9, 2026.

**Does natural-compare ship TypeScript types?**

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

## Links

- [natural-compare on npm](https://www.npmjs.com/package/natural-compare)
- [Source repository](https://github.com/litejs/natural-compare-lite)
- [HTML version](https://canirequire.com/package/natural-compare/)
- [JSON version](https://canirequire.com/package/natural-compare.json)

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