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

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Last verified Sep 9, 2026 against path-type@6.0.0. Markdown · JSON

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

path-type dropped its CommonJS build in 5.0.0 (January 2021). The last version with a plain require()-able CommonJS entry is 4.0.0, published Mar 12, 2019; it declares support for Node.js >=8.

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

What to do

  1. On Node.js 20.19+, 22.12+ and newer, require("path-type") 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 pathType = await import("path-type"). That works on every Node.js version the package supports (>=18).
  3. If you need a synchronous require() or run Node.js 18: npm install path-type@4.0.0, the last CommonJS release (published Mar 12, 2019); it declares Node.js >=8.
  4. TypeScript: types are bundled; install nothing extra.
Latest
6.0.0 (Jul 26, 2024)
Module format
ESM-only
Last CommonJS version
4.0.0
ESM-only since
5.0.0 (Jan 27, 2021)
TypeScript types
Bundled
Node engines
>=18
Weekly downloads
89.9M
License
MIT

Does path-type@6.0.0 actually load? Runtime test results

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

Runtimerequire("path-type")import "path-type"
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-type

ES modules (import)

import * as pathType from "path-type";

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 pathType = require("path-type");

// Any Node.js version the package supports (>=18), from an async function:
async function main() {
  const pathType = await import("path-type");
}

// Or pin the last CommonJS release (declares Node.js >=8):
// npm install path-type@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 (7 versions; the newest 7 shown).

VersionsFormatFirst published
5.0.0 – 6.0.0ESM-onlyJan 27, 2021
1.0.0 – 4.0.0CommonJSSep 4, 2015

Frequently asked

Is path-type ESM-only?

path-type@6.0.0 is ESM-only. path-type dropped its CommonJS build in 5.0.0 (January 2021). The last version with a plain require()-able CommonJS entry is 4.0.0, published Mar 12, 2019; it declares support for Node.js >=8.

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

4.0.0 is the last version of path-type with a CommonJS build; it declares Node.js >=8. Install it with "npm install path-type@4.0.0". Every version from 5.0.0 on is ESM-only.

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

From a CommonJS file, use a dynamic import inside an async function: const pathType = await import("path-type"). That works on every Node.js version the package supports (>=18). On Node.js 20.19+, 22.12+ and newer, require("path-type") 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-type@4.0.0 (declares Node.js >=8).

Does path-type work in Bun?

Yes. import "path-type" loaded successfully in Bun 1.4.0 on Sep 9, 2026.

Does path-type ship TypeScript types?

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

Links

Other esm-only packages

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