# Is picomatch ESM-only? Can you require() it?

> picomatch@4.0.7 is a CommonJS package. CommonJS — require() works on every Node.js version we test.

Blazing fast and accurate glob matcher written in JavaScript, with no dependencies and full support for standard and extended Bash glob features, including braces, extglobs, POSIX brackets, and regular expressions.

Last verified Sep 9, 2026 against picomatch@4.0.7.

picomatch ships CommonJS only. require("picomatch") works on every Node.js version we test (18, 20, 22, 24 and 26) and in Bun. The package declares Node.js >=12. import "picomatch" also works because Node.js and Bun can import CommonJS from ES modules, but only the default export is guaranteed; named imports depend on Node's static analysis of the module.

## What to do

1. require("picomatch") works on every Node.js version we test (18, 20, 22, 24 and 26) and in Bun. The package declares Node.js >=12.
2. From ES modules use the default import: import picomatch from "picomatch"; then destructure. Named imports only work when Node.js can statically detect the exports.
3. TypeScript: npm install -D @types/picomatch

## Facts

- Latest: 4.0.7 (Aug 24, 2026)
- Module format: CommonJS
- Last CommonJS version: 4.0.7
- TypeScript types: @types/picomatch
- Node engines: >=12
- Weekly downloads: 435.2M
- License: MIT

## Runtime test results for picomatch@4.0.7

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

| Runtime | require("picomatch") | import "picomatch" |
|---|---|---|
| Node.js 18 | works | 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 picomatch

ES modules:

```js
import picomatch from "picomatch";
```

CommonJS:

```js
const picomatch = require("picomatch");
```

## Module format by version

Derived from the type, main and exports fields of every stable release on npm (35 versions; the newest 35 shown).

| Versions | Format | First published |
|---|---|---|
| 1.0.0 – 4.0.7 | CommonJS | Nov 5, 2018 |

## Frequently asked

**Is picomatch ESM-only?**

picomatch@4.0.7 is a CommonJS package. picomatch ships CommonJS only. require("picomatch") works on every Node.js version we test (18, 20, 22, 24 and 26) and in Bun. The package declares Node.js >=12. import "picomatch" also works because Node.js and Bun can import CommonJS from ES modules, but only the default export is guaranteed; named imports depend on Node's static analysis of the module.

**Can I import picomatch with ES module syntax?**

Yes. import picomatch from "picomatch" works in Node.js and Bun because they support importing CommonJS modules. Named imports work only when Node.js can statically detect the exports.

**Does picomatch work in Bun?**

Yes. import "picomatch" loaded successfully in Bun 1.4.0 on Sep 9, 2026.

**Does picomatch ship TypeScript types?**

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

## Links

- [picomatch on npm](https://www.npmjs.com/package/picomatch)
- [Source repository](https://github.com/micromatch/picomatch)
- [HTML version](https://canirequire.com/package/picomatch/)
- [JSON version](https://canirequire.com/package/picomatch.json)

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