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

Get the PATH environment variable key cross-platform

Last verified Sep 9, 2026 against path-key@4.0.0. JSON

ESM-only ESM-only since 4.0.0 — last CommonJS version is 3.1.1

path-key dropped its CommonJS build in 4.0.0 (April 2021). The last version you can require() on every Node.js version, including 18 and older, is 3.1.1, published Nov 22, 2019.

On Node.js 20.19+, 22.12+ and every newer release, require("path-key") 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
4.0.0 (Apr 9, 2021)
Module format
ESM-only
Last CommonJS version
3.1.1
ESM-only since
4.0.0 (Apr 9, 2021)
TypeScript types
@types/path-key
Node engines
>=12
Weekly downloads
244.9M
License
MIT

Does path-key@4.0.0 actually load? Runtime test results

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

Runtimerequire("path-key")import "path-key"
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-key

ES modules (import)

import pathKey from "path-key";

CommonJS (require)

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

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

// Or pin the last CommonJS release:
// npm install path-key@3.1.1

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
4.0.0ESM-onlyApr 9, 2021
1.0.0 – 3.1.1CommonJSDec 28, 2015

Frequently asked

Is path-key ESM-only?

path-key@4.0.0 is ESM-only. path-key dropped its CommonJS build in 4.0.0 (April 2021). The last version you can require() on every Node.js version, including 18 and older, is 3.1.1, published Nov 22, 2019.

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

3.1.1 is the last version of path-key with a CommonJS build. Install it with "npm install path-key@3.1.1". Every version from 4.0.0 on is ESM-only.

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

Use a dynamic import: const mod = await import("path-key"). On Node.js 20.19+, 22.12+ and newer, a plain require("path-key") also works for ESM packages that do not use top-level await. Alternatively pin path-key@3.1.1.

Does path-key work in Bun?

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

Does path-key ship TypeScript types?

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

Links

Other esm-only packages

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