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Is prettier ESM-only? Can you require() it?

Prettier is an opinionated code formatter

Last verified Sep 9, 2026 against prettier@3.9.6. Markdown · JSON

Dual (CommonJS + ESM) Dual package — require() works on every Node.js version we test; import works too

prettier publishes both a CommonJS entry and a native ESM entry (ESM added in 3.0.0). require("prettier") works on every Node.js version we test (18, 20, 22, 24 and 26) and in Bun. The package declares Node.js >=14. import "prettier" works alongside it.

What to do

  1. Nothing to change. require("prettier") works on every Node.js version we test (18, 20, 22, 24 and 26) and in Bun. The package declares Node.js >=14. import * as prettier from "prettier" works alongside it; use named imports for what the ESM entry exports.
  2. TypeScript: types are bundled; install nothing extra.
Latest
3.9.6 (Jul 21, 2026)
Module format
Dual (CommonJS + ESM)
Last CommonJS version
3.9.6
Native ESM since
3.0.0
TypeScript types
Bundled
Node engines
>=14
Weekly downloads
114.2M
License
MIT

Does prettier@3.9.6 actually load? Runtime test results

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

Runtimerequire("prettier")import "prettier"
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 prettier

ES modules (import)

import * as prettier from "prettier";

Namespace import shown because the ESM entry may have no default export; use named imports for what it exports.

CommonJS (require)

const prettier = require("prettier");

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 (165 versions; the newest 60 shown).

VersionsFormatFirst published
3.0.0 – 3.9.6Dual (CommonJS + ESM)Jul 5, 2023
2.5.0 – 2.8.8CommonJSNov 25, 2021

Frequently asked

Is prettier ESM-only?

prettier@3.9.6 ships CommonJS and ESM builds. prettier publishes both a CommonJS entry and a native ESM entry (ESM added in 3.0.0). require("prettier") works on every Node.js version we test (18, 20, 22, 24 and 26) and in Bun. The package declares Node.js >=14. import "prettier" works alongside it.

Can I require prettier?

Yes. prettier ships a CommonJS entry alongside the native ESM entry. require("prettier") works on every Node.js version we test (18, 20, 22, 24 and 26) and in Bun. The package declares Node.js >=14.

Does prettier work in Bun?

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

Does prettier ship TypeScript types?

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

Links

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