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Is parent-module ESM-only? Can you require() it?

Get the path of the parent module

Last verified Sep 9, 2026 against parent-module@3.2.0. Markdown · JSON

ESM-only ESM-only since 3.0.0 — last CommonJS version is 2.0.0

parent-module dropped its CommonJS build in 3.0.0 (October 2021). The last version with a plain require()-able CommonJS entry is 2.0.0, published Apr 30, 2019; it declares support for Node.js >=8.

On Node.js 20.19+, 22.12+ and newer, require("parent-module") 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("parent-module") fails with ERR_REQUIRE_ESM.

What to do

  1. On Node.js 20.19+, 22.12+ and newer, require("parent-module") 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 parentModule = await import("parent-module"). That works on every Node.js version the package supports (^12.20.0 || ^14.13.1 || >=16.0.0).
  3. If you need a synchronous require() or run Node.js 18: npm install parent-module@2.0.0, the last CommonJS release (published Apr 30, 2019); it declares Node.js >=8.
  4. TypeScript: types are bundled; install nothing extra.
Latest
3.2.0 (Sep 15, 2025)
Module format
ESM-only
Last CommonJS version
2.0.0
ESM-only since
3.0.0 (Oct 4, 2021)
TypeScript types
Bundled
Node engines
^12.20.0 || ^14.13.1 || >=16.0.0
Weekly downloads
124.2M
License
MIT

Does parent-module@3.2.0 actually load? Runtime test results

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

Runtimerequire("parent-module")import "parent-module"
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 parent-module

ES modules (import)

import * as parentModule from "parent-module";

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 parentModule = require("parent-module");

// Any Node.js version the package supports (^12.20.0 || ^14.13.1 || >=16.0.0), from an async function:
async function main() {
  const parentModule = await import("parent-module");
}

// Or pin the last CommonJS release (declares Node.js >=8):
// npm install parent-module@2.0.0

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 (7 versions; the newest 7 shown).

VersionsFormatFirst published
3.0.0 – 3.2.0ESM-onlyOct 4, 2021
0.1.0 – 2.0.0CommonJSJan 22, 2016

Frequently asked

Is parent-module ESM-only?

parent-module@3.2.0 is ESM-only. parent-module dropped its CommonJS build in 3.0.0 (October 2021). The last version with a plain require()-able CommonJS entry is 2.0.0, published Apr 30, 2019; it declares support for Node.js >=8.

Which version of parent-module still supports CommonJS / require()?

2.0.0 is the last version of parent-module with a CommonJS build; it declares Node.js >=8. Install it with "npm install parent-module@2.0.0". Every version from 3.0.0 on is ESM-only.

How do I use parent-module from a CommonJS file?

From a CommonJS file, use a dynamic import inside an async function: const parentModule = await import("parent-module"). That works on every Node.js version the package supports (^12.20.0 || ^14.13.1 || >=16.0.0). On Node.js 20.19+, 22.12+ and newer, require("parent-module") works with the latest version: Node.js loads synchronous ES modules through require(). Verified on Node.js 20, 22, 24 and 26. Alternatively pin parent-module@2.0.0 (declares Node.js >=8).

Does parent-module work in Bun?

Yes. import "parent-module" loaded successfully in Bun 1.4.0 on Sep 9, 2026.

Does parent-module ship TypeScript types?

Yes. parent-module bundles its own type declarations; no @types package is needed.

Links

Other esm-only packages

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