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Is npm-run-path ESM-only? Can you require() it?

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Last verified Sep 9, 2026 against npm-run-path@6.0.0. Markdown · JSON

ESM-only ESM-only since 5.0.0 — last CommonJS version is 4.0.1

npm-run-path dropped its CommonJS build in 5.0.0 (October 2021). The last version with a plain require()-able CommonJS entry is 4.0.1, published Dec 22, 2019; it declares support for Node.js >=8.

On Node.js 20.19+, 22.12+ and newer, require("npm-run-path") 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("npm-run-path") fails with ERR_REQUIRE_ESM.

What to do

  1. On Node.js 20.19+, 22.12+ and newer, require("npm-run-path") 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 npmRunPath = await import("npm-run-path"). That works on every Node.js version the package supports (>=18).
  3. If you need a synchronous require() or run Node.js 18: npm install npm-run-path@4.0.1, the last CommonJS release (published Dec 22, 2019); it declares Node.js >=8.
  4. TypeScript: types are bundled; install nothing extra.
Latest
6.0.0 (Aug 26, 2024)
Module format
ESM-only
Last CommonJS version
4.0.1
ESM-only since
5.0.0 (Oct 5, 2021)
TypeScript types
Bundled
Node engines
>=18
Weekly downloads
104.0M
License
MIT

Does npm-run-path@6.0.0 actually load? Runtime test results

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

Runtimerequire("npm-run-path")import "npm-run-path"
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 npm-run-path

ES modules (import)

import * as npmRunPath from "npm-run-path";

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 npmRunPath = require("npm-run-path");

// Any Node.js version the package supports (>=18), from an async function:
async function main() {
  const npmRunPath = await import("npm-run-path");
}

// Or pin the last CommonJS release (declares Node.js >=8):
// npm install npm-run-path@4.0.1

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 (14 versions; the newest 14 shown).

VersionsFormatFirst published
5.0.0 – 6.0.0ESM-onlyOct 5, 2021
1.0.0 – 4.0.1CommonJSDec 28, 2015

Frequently asked

Is npm-run-path ESM-only?

npm-run-path@6.0.0 is ESM-only. npm-run-path dropped its CommonJS build in 5.0.0 (October 2021). The last version with a plain require()-able CommonJS entry is 4.0.1, published Dec 22, 2019; it declares support for Node.js >=8.

Which version of npm-run-path still supports CommonJS / require()?

4.0.1 is the last version of npm-run-path with a CommonJS build; it declares Node.js >=8. Install it with "npm install npm-run-path@4.0.1". Every version from 5.0.0 on is ESM-only.

How do I use npm-run-path from a CommonJS file?

From a CommonJS file, use a dynamic import inside an async function: const npmRunPath = await import("npm-run-path"). That works on every Node.js version the package supports (>=18). On Node.js 20.19+, 22.12+ and newer, require("npm-run-path") works with the latest version: Node.js loads synchronous ES modules through require(). Verified on Node.js 20, 22, 24 and 26. Alternatively pin npm-run-path@4.0.1 (declares Node.js >=8).

Does npm-run-path work in Bun?

Yes. import "npm-run-path" loaded successfully in Bun 1.4.0 on Sep 9, 2026.

Does npm-run-path ship TypeScript types?

Yes. npm-run-path bundles its own type declarations; no @types package is needed.

Links

Other esm-only packages

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