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

> query-string@9.5.1 is ESM-only. ESM-only since 8.0.0 — last CommonJS version is 7.1.3.

Parse and stringify URL query strings

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

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.

## Facts

- 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

## Runtime test results for query-string@9.5.1

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

| Runtime | require("query-string") | import "query-string" |
|---|---|---|
| Node.js 18 | fails (ERR_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:

```js
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:

```js
// 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 (92 versions; the newest 60 shown).

| Versions | Format | First published |
|---|---|---|
| 8.0.0 – 9.5.1 | ESM-only | Dec 12, 2022 |
| 5.0.0 – 7.1.3 | CommonJS | Jul 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

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

---

For scripts and AI agents: any package is at https://canirequire.com/package/<name>/index.md (Markdown) or https://canirequire.com/package/<name>.json (JSON); the site index is https://canirequire.com/llms.txt. Fetch the URL directly; no search needed.