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

zlib port to javascript - fast, modularized, with browser support

Last verified Sep 9, 2026 against pako@3.0.1. Markdown · JSON

Dual (CommonJS + ESM) Dual package — require() works on every Node.js version we test; import works too

pako publishes both a CommonJS entry and a native ESM entry (ESM added in 2.0.0). require("pako") works on every Node.js version we test (18, 20, 22, 24 and 26) and in Bun. import "pako" works alongside it.

What to do

  1. Nothing to change. require("pako") works on every Node.js version we test (18, 20, 22, 24 and 26) and in Bun. import * as pako from "pako" works alongside it; use named imports for what the ESM entry exports.
  2. TypeScript: types are bundled; install nothing extra.
Latest
3.0.1 (Jul 6, 2026)
Module format
Dual (CommonJS + ESM)
Last CommonJS version
3.0.1
Native ESM since
2.0.0
TypeScript types
Bundled
Node engines
not declared
Weekly downloads
100.8M
License
(MIT AND Zlib)

Does pako@3.0.1 actually load? Runtime test results

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

Runtimerequire("pako")import "pako"
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 pako

ES modules (import)

import * as pako from "pako";

Namespace import shown because the ESM entry may have no default export; use named imports for what it exports.

CommonJS (require)

const pako = require("pako");

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 (34 versions; the newest 34 shown).

VersionsFormatFirst published
2.0.0 – 3.0.1Dual (CommonJS + ESM)Nov 17, 2020
0.0.0 – 1.0.11CommonJSFeb 19, 2014

Frequently asked

Is pako ESM-only?

pako@3.0.1 ships CommonJS and ESM builds. pako publishes both a CommonJS entry and a native ESM entry (ESM added in 2.0.0). require("pako") works on every Node.js version we test (18, 20, 22, 24 and 26) and in Bun. import "pako" works alongside it.

Can I require pako?

Yes. pako ships a CommonJS entry alongside the native ESM entry. require("pako") works on every Node.js version we test (18, 20, 22, 24 and 26) and in Bun.

Does pako work in Bun?

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

Does pako ship TypeScript types?

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

Links

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