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Is path-exists ESM-only? Can you require() it?

Check if a path exists

Last verified Sep 9, 2026 against path-exists@5.0.0. JSON

ESM-only ESM-only since 5.0.0 — last CommonJS version is 4.0.0

path-exists dropped its CommonJS build in 5.0.0 (August 2021). The last version you can require() on every Node.js version, including 18 and older, is 4.0.0, published Apr 4, 2019.

On Node.js 20.19+, 22.12+ and every newer release, require("path-exists") 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
5.0.0 (Aug 12, 2021)
Module format
ESM-only
Last CommonJS version
4.0.0
ESM-only since
5.0.0 (Aug 12, 2021)
TypeScript types
@types/path-exists
Node engines
^12.20.0 || ^14.13.1 || >=16.0.0
Weekly downloads
204.1M
License
MIT

Does path-exists@5.0.0 actually load? Runtime test results

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

Runtimerequire("path-exists")import "path-exists"
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 path-exists

ES modules (import)

import pathExists from "path-exists";

CommonJS (require)

// Node.js 20.19+ / 22.12+ / newer (package has no top-level await):
const pathExists = require("path-exists");

// Any Node.js version:
const pathExists = await import("path-exists");

// Or pin the last CommonJS release:
// npm install path-exists@4.0.0

Module format by version

Derived from the type, main and exports fields of every stable release on npm (6 versions; the newest 6 shown).

VersionsFormatFirst published
5.0.0ESM-onlyAug 12, 2021
1.0.0 – 4.0.0CommonJSMay 2, 2015

Frequently asked

Is path-exists ESM-only?

path-exists@5.0.0 is ESM-only. path-exists dropped its CommonJS build in 5.0.0 (August 2021). The last version you can require() on every Node.js version, including 18 and older, is 4.0.0, published Apr 4, 2019.

Which version of path-exists still supports CommonJS / require()?

4.0.0 is the last version of path-exists with a CommonJS build. Install it with "npm install path-exists@4.0.0". Every version from 5.0.0 on is ESM-only.

How do I use path-exists from a CommonJS file?

Use a dynamic import: const mod = await import("path-exists"). On Node.js 20.19+, 22.12+ and newer, a plain require("path-exists") also works for ESM packages that do not use top-level await. Alternatively pin path-exists@4.0.0.

Does path-exists work in Bun?

Yes. import "path-exists" loaded successfully in Bun 1.4 on Sep 9, 2026.

Does path-exists ship TypeScript types?

Not bundled. Install the community types with "npm install -D @types/path-exists".

Links

Other esm-only packages

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