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Is query-string ESM-only? Can you require() it?

Parse and stringify URL query strings

Last verified Sep 9, 2026 against query-string@9.5.1. Markdown · JSON

ESM-only ESM-only since 8.0.0 — last CommonJS version is 7.1.3

query-string dropped its CommonJS build in 8.0.0 (December 2022). The last version with a plain require()-able CommonJS entry is 7.1.3, published Dec 2, 2022; it declares support for Node.js >=6.

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

What to do

  1. On Node.js 20.19+, 22.12+ and newer, require("query-string") 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 queryString = await import("query-string"). 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 query-string@7.1.3, the last CommonJS release (published Dec 2, 2022); it declares Node.js >=6.
  4. TypeScript: types are bundled; install nothing extra.
Latest
9.5.1 (Sep 1, 2026)
Module format
ESM-only
Last CommonJS version
7.1.3
ESM-only since
8.0.0 (Dec 12, 2022)
TypeScript types
Bundled
Node engines
>=18
Weekly downloads
22.1M
License
MIT

Does query-string@9.5.1 actually load? Runtime test results

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

Runtimerequire("query-string")import "query-string"
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 query-string

ES modules (import)

import * as queryString from "query-string";

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 queryString = require("query-string");

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

// Or pin the last CommonJS release (declares Node.js >=6):
// npm install query-string@7.1.3

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 (92 versions; the newest 60 shown).

VersionsFormatFirst published
8.0.0 – 9.5.1ESM-onlyDec 12, 2022
5.0.0 – 7.1.3CommonJSJul 22, 2017

Frequently asked

Is query-string ESM-only?

query-string@9.5.1 is ESM-only. query-string dropped its CommonJS build in 8.0.0 (December 2022). The last version with a plain require()-able CommonJS entry is 7.1.3, published Dec 2, 2022; it declares support for Node.js >=6.

Which version of query-string still supports CommonJS / require()?

7.1.3 is the last version of query-string with a CommonJS build; it declares Node.js >=6. Install it with "npm install query-string@7.1.3". Every version from 8.0.0 on is ESM-only.

How do I use query-string from a CommonJS file?

From a CommonJS file, use a dynamic import inside an async function: const queryString = await import("query-string"). That works on every Node.js version the package supports (>=18). On Node.js 20.19+, 22.12+ and newer, require("query-string") works with the latest version: Node.js loads synchronous ES modules through require(). Verified on Node.js 20, 22, 24 and 26. Alternatively pin query-string@7.1.3 (declares Node.js >=6).

Does query-string work in Bun?

Yes. import "query-string" loaded successfully in Bun 1.4.0 on Sep 9, 2026.

Does query-string ship TypeScript types?

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

Links

Other esm-only packages

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