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Is react-router ESM-only? Can you require() it?

Declarative routing for React

Last verified Sep 9, 2026 against react-router@8.3.1. Markdown · JSON

ESM-only ESM-only since 8.0.0 — last CommonJS version is 7.18.3

react-router dropped its CommonJS build in 8.0.0 (June 2026). The last version with a plain require()-able CommonJS entry is 7.18.3, published Aug 28, 2026; it declares support for Node.js >=20.0.0.

On Node.js 22.12+ and newer (react-router@8.3.1 declares Node.js >=22.22.0), require("react-router") works with the latest version: Node.js loads synchronous ES modules through require(). Verified on Node.js 22, 24 and 26. Node.js 18 has no require(esm), and react-router@8.3.1 declares Node.js >=22.22.0, so 18 is outside its supported range anyway.

react-router@8.3.1 declares engines ">=22.22.0", so Node.js 18, 20 are outside its supported range regardless of module format.

What to do

  1. On Node.js 22.12+ and newer (react-router@8.3.1 declares Node.js >=22.22.0), require("react-router") works with the latest version: Node.js loads synchronous ES modules through require(). Verified on Node.js 22, 24 and 26.
  2. From a CommonJS file, use a dynamic import inside an async function: const reactRouter = await import("react-router"). That works on every Node.js version the package supports (>=22.22.0).
  3. If you need a synchronous require(): npm install react-router@7.18.3, the last CommonJS release (published Aug 28, 2026); it declares Node.js >=20.0.0.
  4. react-router@8.3.1 declares engines ">=22.22.0", so Node.js 18, 20 are unsupported regardless: upgrade Node.js or pin an older release.
  5. TypeScript: types are bundled; install nothing extra.
Latest
8.3.1 (Aug 28, 2026)
Module format
ESM-only
Last CommonJS version
7.18.3
ESM-only since
8.0.0 (Jun 17, 2026)
TypeScript types
Bundled
Node engines
>=22.22.0
Weekly downloads
46.6M
License
MIT

Does react-router@8.3.1 actually load? Runtime test results

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

Runtimerequire("react-router")import "react-router"
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 react-router

ES modules (import)

import * as reactRouter from "react-router";

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

CommonJS (require)

// Node.js 22.12+ and newer (verified):
const reactRouter = require("react-router");

// Any Node.js version the package supports (>=22.22.0), from an async function:
async function main() {
  const reactRouter = await import("react-router");
}

// Or pin the last CommonJS release (declares Node.js >=20.0.0):
// npm install react-router@7.18.3

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 (222 versions; the newest 60 shown).

VersionsFormatFirst published
8.0.0 – 8.3.1ESM-onlyJun 17, 2026
7.0.0 – 7.18.3Dual (CommonJS + ESM)Nov 22, 2024
6.30.4 – 6.30.6CommonJSMay 29, 2026

Frequently asked

Is react-router ESM-only?

react-router@8.3.1 is ESM-only. react-router dropped its CommonJS build in 8.0.0 (June 2026). The last version with a plain require()-able CommonJS entry is 7.18.3, published Aug 28, 2026; it declares support for Node.js >=20.0.0.

Which version of react-router still supports CommonJS / require()?

7.18.3 is the last version of react-router with a CommonJS build; it declares Node.js >=20.0.0. Install it with "npm install react-router@7.18.3". Every version from 8.0.0 on is ESM-only.

How do I use react-router from a CommonJS file?

From a CommonJS file, use a dynamic import inside an async function: const reactRouter = await import("react-router"). That works on every Node.js version the package supports (>=22.22.0). On Node.js 22.12+ and newer (react-router@8.3.1 declares Node.js >=22.22.0), require("react-router") works with the latest version: Node.js loads synchronous ES modules through require(). Verified on Node.js 22, 24 and 26. Alternatively pin react-router@7.18.3 (declares Node.js >=20.0.0).

Does react-router work in Bun?

Yes. import "react-router" loaded successfully in Bun 1.4.0 on Sep 9, 2026.

Does react-router ship TypeScript types?

Yes. react-router bundles its own type declarations; no @types package is needed.

Links

Other esm-only packages

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