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

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Last verified Sep 9, 2026 against next@16.3.4. Markdown · JSON

CommonJS CommonJS — require() works on every Node.js version we test

next ships CommonJS only. require("next") works on every Node.js version we test (18, 20, 22, 24 and 26) and in Bun. The package declares Node.js >=20.9.0. import "next" 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("next") works on every Node.js version we test (18, 20, 22, 24 and 26) and in Bun. The package declares Node.js >=20.9.0.
  2. From ES modules use the default import: import next from "next"; then destructure. Named imports only work when Node.js can statically detect the exports.
  3. TypeScript: types are bundled; install nothing extra.
Latest
16.3.4 (Aug 31, 2026)
Module format
CommonJS
Last CommonJS version
16.3.4
TypeScript types
Bundled
Node engines
>=20.9.0
Weekly downloads
40.6M
License
MIT

Does next@16.3.4 actually load? Runtime test results

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

Runtimerequire("next")import "next"
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 next

ES modules (import)

import next from "next";

Named imports from a CommonJS package only work when Node.js can statically detect them. If a named import fails, use the default import and destructure.

CommonJS (require)

const next = require("next");

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 (413 versions; the newest 60 shown).

VersionsFormatFirst published
15.5.3 – 16.3.4CommonJSSep 10, 2025

Frequently asked

Is next ESM-only?

next@16.3.4 is a CommonJS package. next ships CommonJS only. require("next") works on every Node.js version we test (18, 20, 22, 24 and 26) and in Bun. The package declares Node.js >=20.9.0. import "next" 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 next with ES module syntax?

Yes. import next from "next" 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 next work in Bun?

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

Does next ship TypeScript types?

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

Links

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