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

> prismjs@1.30.0 is a CommonJS package. CommonJS — require() works on every Node.js version we test.

Lightweight, robust, elegant syntax highlighting. A spin-off project from Dabblet.

Last verified Sep 9, 2026 against prismjs@1.30.0.

prismjs ships CommonJS only. require("prismjs") works on every Node.js version we test (18, 20, 22, 24 and 26) and in Bun. The package declares Node.js >=6. import "prismjs" 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("prismjs") works on every Node.js version we test (18, 20, 22, 24 and 26) and in Bun. The package declares Node.js >=6.
2. From ES modules use the default import: import prismjs from "prismjs"; then destructure. Named imports only work when Node.js can statically detect the exports.
3. TypeScript: npm install -D @types/prismjs

## Facts

- Latest: 1.30.0 (Mar 10, 2025)
- Module format: CommonJS
- Last CommonJS version: 1.30.0
- TypeScript types: @types/prismjs
- Node engines: >=6
- Weekly downloads: 26.3M
- License: MIT

## Runtime test results for prismjs@1.30.0

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

| Runtime | require("prismjs") | import "prismjs" |
|---|---|---|
| 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 prismjs

ES modules:

```js
import prismjs from "prismjs";
```

CommonJS:

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

## Module format by version

Derived from the type, main and exports fields of every stable release on npm (38 versions; the newest 38 shown).

| Versions | Format | First published |
|---|---|---|
| 0.0.1 – 1.30.0 | CommonJS | May 13, 2015 |

## Frequently asked

**Is prismjs ESM-only?**

prismjs@1.30.0 is a CommonJS package. prismjs ships CommonJS only. require("prismjs") works on every Node.js version we test (18, 20, 22, 24 and 26) and in Bun. The package declares Node.js >=6. import "prismjs" 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 prismjs with ES module syntax?**

Yes. import prismjs from "prismjs" 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 prismjs work in Bun?**

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

**Does prismjs ship TypeScript types?**

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

## Links

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

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