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

Open stuff like URLs, files, executables. Cross-platform.

Last verified Sep 9, 2026 against open@11.0.2. Markdown · JSON

ESM-only ESM-only since 9.0.0 — last CommonJS version is 8.4.2

open dropped its CommonJS build in 9.0.0 (March 2023). The last version with a plain require()-able CommonJS entry is 8.4.2, published Feb 20, 2023; it declares support for Node.js >=12.

On Node.js 20.19+, 22.12+ and newer, require("open") works with the latest version: Node.js loads synchronous ES modules through require(). Verified on Node.js 20, 22, 24 and 26. Node.js 18 has no require(esm), and open@11.0.2 declares Node.js >=20, so 18 is outside its supported range anyway.

open@11.0.2 declares engines ">=20", so Node.js 18 is outside its supported range regardless of module format.

What to do

  1. On Node.js 20.19+, 22.12+ and newer, require("open") 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 open = await import("open"). That works on every Node.js version the package supports (>=20).
  3. If you need a synchronous require() or run Node.js 18: npm install open@8.4.2, the last CommonJS release (published Feb 20, 2023); it declares Node.js >=12.
  4. open@11.0.2 declares engines ">=20", so Node.js 18 is unsupported regardless: upgrade Node.js or pin an older release.
  5. TypeScript: types are bundled; install nothing extra.
Latest
11.0.2 (Aug 29, 2026)
Module format
ESM-only
Last CommonJS version
8.4.2
ESM-only since
9.0.0 (Mar 20, 2023)
TypeScript types
Bundled
Node engines
>=20
Weekly downloads
130.4M
License
MIT

Does open@11.0.2 actually load? Runtime test results

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

Runtimerequire("open")import "open"
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 open

ES modules (import)

import * as open from "open";

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 open = require("open");

// Any Node.js version the package supports (>=20), from an async function:
async function main() {
  const open = await import("open");
}

// Or pin the last CommonJS release (declares Node.js >=12):
// npm install open@8.4.2

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 (54 versions; the newest 54 shown).

VersionsFormatFirst published
9.0.0 – 11.0.2ESM-onlyMar 20, 2023
0.0.0 – 8.4.2CommonJSApr 14, 2012

Frequently asked

Is open ESM-only?

open@11.0.2 is ESM-only. open dropped its CommonJS build in 9.0.0 (March 2023). The last version with a plain require()-able CommonJS entry is 8.4.2, published Feb 20, 2023; it declares support for Node.js >=12.

Which version of open still supports CommonJS / require()?

8.4.2 is the last version of open with a CommonJS build; it declares Node.js >=12. Install it with "npm install open@8.4.2". Every version from 9.0.0 on is ESM-only.

How do I use open from a CommonJS file?

From a CommonJS file, use a dynamic import inside an async function: const open = await import("open"). That works on every Node.js version the package supports (>=20). On Node.js 20.19+, 22.12+ and newer, require("open") works with the latest version: Node.js loads synchronous ES modules through require(). Verified on Node.js 20, 22, 24 and 26. Alternatively pin open@8.4.2 (declares Node.js >=12).

Does open work in Bun?

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

Does open ship TypeScript types?

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

Links

Other esm-only packages

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