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Is parse-json ESM-only? Can you require() it?

Parse JSON with more helpful errors

Last verified Sep 9, 2026 against parse-json@8.3.0. JSON

ESM-only ESM-only since 6.0.0 — last CommonJS version is 5.2.0

parse-json dropped its CommonJS build in 6.0.0 (November 2021). The last version you can require() on every Node.js version, including 18 and older, is 5.2.0, published Jan 18, 2021.

On Node.js 20.19+, 22.12+ and every newer release, require("parse-json") 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
8.3.0 (Apr 9, 2025)
Module format
ESM-only
Last CommonJS version
5.2.0
ESM-only since
6.0.0 (Nov 4, 2021)
TypeScript types
Bundled
Node engines
>=18
Weekly downloads
121.7M
License
MIT

Does parse-json@8.3.0 actually load? Runtime test results

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

Runtimerequire("parse-json")import "parse-json"
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 parse-json

ES modules (import)

import parseJson from "parse-json";

CommonJS (require)

// Node.js 20.19+ / 22.12+ / newer (package has no top-level await):
const parseJson = require("parse-json");

// Any Node.js version:
const parseJson = await import("parse-json");

// Or pin the last CommonJS release:
// npm install parse-json@5.2.0

Module format by version

Derived from the type, main and exports fields of every stable release on npm (22 versions; the newest 22 shown).

VersionsFormatFirst published
6.0.0 – 8.3.0ESM-onlyNov 4, 2021
1.0.0 – 5.2.0CommonJSJul 28, 2015

Frequently asked

Is parse-json ESM-only?

parse-json@8.3.0 is ESM-only. parse-json dropped its CommonJS build in 6.0.0 (November 2021). The last version you can require() on every Node.js version, including 18 and older, is 5.2.0, published Jan 18, 2021.

Which version of parse-json still supports CommonJS / require()?

5.2.0 is the last version of parse-json with a CommonJS build. Install it with "npm install parse-json@5.2.0". Every version from 6.0.0 on is ESM-only.

How do I use parse-json from a CommonJS file?

Use a dynamic import: const mod = await import("parse-json"). On Node.js 20.19+, 22.12+ and newer, a plain require("parse-json") also works for ESM packages that do not use top-level await. Alternatively pin parse-json@5.2.0.

Does parse-json work in Bun?

Yes. import "parse-json" loaded successfully in Bun 1.4 on Sep 9, 2026.

Does parse-json ship TypeScript types?

Yes. parse-json bundles its own type declarations; no @types package is needed.

Links

Other esm-only packages

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