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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. Markdown · 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 with a plain require()-able CommonJS entry is 3.1.1, published Nov 22, 2019; it declares support for Node.js >=8.

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

What to do

  1. On Node.js 20.19+, 22.12+ and newer, require("path-key") 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 pathKey = await import("path-key"). That works on every Node.js version the package supports (>=12).
  3. If you need a synchronous require() or run Node.js 18: npm install path-key@3.1.1, the last CommonJS release (published Nov 22, 2019); it declares Node.js >=8.
  4. TypeScript: npm install -D @types/path-key
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 1.4.0✓ works✓ works

How to import path-key

ES modules (import)

import * as pathKey from "path-key";

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 pathKey = require("path-key");

// Any Node.js version the package supports (>=12), from an async function:
async function main() {
  const pathKey = await import("path-key");
}

// Or pin the last CommonJS release (declares Node.js >=8):
// 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, corrected where a runtime test of that version contradicted them (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 with a plain require()-able CommonJS entry is 3.1.1, published Nov 22, 2019; it declares support for Node.js >=8.

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

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

From a CommonJS file, use a dynamic import inside an async function: const pathKey = await import("path-key"). That works on every Node.js version the package supports (>=12). On Node.js 20.19+, 22.12+ and newer, require("path-key") 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-key@3.1.1 (declares Node.js >=8).

Does path-key work in Bun?

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