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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. 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 you can require() on every Node.js version, including 18 and older, is 2.0.0, published Apr 30, 2019.

On Node.js 20.19+, 22.12+ and every newer release, require("parent-module") works anyway: Node can load synchronous ES modules through require(). Verified on Node 20, 22, 24, 26. Node.js 18 and older still fail with ERR_REQUIRE_ESM.

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✓ works✓ works

How to import parent-module

ES modules (import)

import parentModule from "parent-module";

CommonJS (require)

// Node.js 20.19+ / 22.12+ / newer (package has no top-level await):
const parentModule = require("parent-module");

// Any Node.js version:
const parentModule = await import("parent-module");

// Or pin the last CommonJS release:
// 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 (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 you can require() on every Node.js version, including 18 and older, is 2.0.0, published Apr 30, 2019.

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

2.0.0 is the last version of parent-module with a CommonJS build. 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?

Use a dynamic import: const mod = await import("parent-module"). On Node.js 20.19+, 22.12+ and newer, a plain require("parent-module") also works for ESM packages that do not use top-level await. Alternatively pin parent-module@2.0.0.

Does parent-module work in Bun?

Yes. import "parent-module" loaded successfully in Bun 1.4 on Sep 9, 2026.

Does parent-module ship TypeScript types?

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

Links

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