# Is node-addon-api ESM-only? Can you require() it?

> node-addon-api@8.9.2 is a CommonJS package. CommonJS — require() works on every Node.js version we test.

Node.js API (Node-API)

Last verified Sep 9, 2026 against node-addon-api@8.9.2.

node-addon-api ships CommonJS only. require("node-addon-api") works on every Node.js version we test (18, 20, 22, 24 and 26) and in Bun. The package declares Node.js ^18 || ^20 || >= 21. import "node-addon-api" 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("node-addon-api") works on every Node.js version we test (18, 20, 22, 24 and 26) and in Bun. The package declares Node.js ^18 || ^20 || >= 21.
2. From ES modules use the default import: import nodeAddonApi from "node-addon-api"; then destructure. Named imports only work when Node.js can statically detect the exports.
3. TypeScript: no types are available for node-addon-api; declare the module yourself if you need them.

## Facts

- Latest: 8.9.2 (Aug 12, 2026)
- Module format: CommonJS
- Last CommonJS version: 8.9.2
- TypeScript types: none
- Node engines: ^18 || ^20 || >= 21
- Weekly downloads: 63.8M
- License: MIT

## Runtime test results for node-addon-api@8.9.2

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

| Runtime | require("node-addon-api") | import "node-addon-api" |
|---|---|---|
| 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 node-addon-api

ES modules:

```js
import nodeAddonApi from "node-addon-api";
```

CommonJS:

```js
const nodeAddonApi = require("node-addon-api");
```

## Module format by version

Derived from the type, main and exports fields of every stable release on npm (59 versions; the newest 59 shown).

| Versions | Format | First published |
|---|---|---|
| 0.1.0 – 8.9.2 | CommonJS | May 4, 2017 |

## Frequently asked

**Is node-addon-api ESM-only?**

node-addon-api@8.9.2 is a CommonJS package. node-addon-api ships CommonJS only. require("node-addon-api") works on every Node.js version we test (18, 20, 22, 24 and 26) and in Bun. The package declares Node.js ^18 || ^20 || >= 21. import "node-addon-api" 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 node-addon-api with ES module syntax?**

Yes. import nodeAddonApi from "node-addon-api" 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 node-addon-api work in Bun?**

Yes. import "node-addon-api" loaded successfully in Bun 1.4.0 on Sep 9, 2026.

**Does node-addon-api ship TypeScript types?**

No. node-addon-api ships no type declarations and there is no @types package for it.

## Links

- [node-addon-api on npm](https://www.npmjs.com/package/node-addon-api)
- [Source repository](https://github.com/nodejs/node-addon-api)
- [HTML version](https://canirequire.com/package/node-addon-api/)
- [JSON version](https://canirequire.com/package/node-addon-api.json)

---

For scripts and AI agents: any package is at https://canirequire.com/package/<name>/index.md (Markdown) or https://canirequire.com/package/<name>.json (JSON); the site index is https://canirequire.com/llms.txt. Fetch the URL directly; no search needed.