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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. Markdown · 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 with a plain require()-able CommonJS entry is 4.0.0, published Apr 4, 2019; it declares support for Node.js >=8.

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

What to do

  1. On Node.js 20.19+, 22.12+ and newer, require("path-exists") 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 pathExists = await import("path-exists"). 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 path-exists@4.0.0, the last CommonJS release (published Apr 4, 2019); it declares Node.js >=8.
  4. TypeScript: npm install -D @types/path-exists
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 1.4.0✓ works✓ works

How to import path-exists

ES modules (import)

import * as pathExists from "path-exists";

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 pathExists = require("path-exists");

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

// Or pin the last CommonJS release (declares Node.js >=8):
// 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, corrected where a runtime test of that version contradicted them (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 with a plain require()-able CommonJS entry is 4.0.0, published Apr 4, 2019; it declares support for Node.js >=8.

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

4.0.0 is the last version of path-exists with a CommonJS build; it declares Node.js >=8. 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?

From a CommonJS file, use a dynamic import inside an async function: const pathExists = await import("path-exists"). 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("path-exists") works with the latest version: Node.js loads synchronous ES modules through require(). Verified on Node.js 20, 22, 24 and 26. Alternatively pin path-exists@4.0.0 (declares Node.js >=8).

Does path-exists work in Bun?

Yes. import "path-exists" loaded successfully in Bun 1.4.0 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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