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Is read-pkg ESM-only? Can you require() it?

Read a package.json file

Last verified Sep 9, 2026 against read-pkg@10.1.0. JSON

ESM-only ESM-only since 6.0.0 — last CommonJS version is 5.2.0

read-pkg dropped its CommonJS build in 6.0.0 (March 2021). The last version you can require() on every Node.js version, including 18 and older, is 5.2.0, published Jul 11, 2019.

On Node.js 20.19+, 22.12+ and every newer release, require("read-pkg") works anyway: Node can load synchronous ES modules through require(). Verified on Node 20, 22, 24, 26. Node.js 18 and older still fail with ERR_REQUIRE_ESM.

read-pkg@10.1.0 declares engines ">=20", so Node.js 18 is outside its supported range regardless of module format.

Latest
10.1.0 (Feb 8, 2026)
Module format
ESM-only
Last CommonJS version
5.2.0
ESM-only since
6.0.0 (Mar 28, 2021)
TypeScript types
Bundled
Node engines
>=20
Weekly downloads
36.8M
License
MIT

Does read-pkg@10.1.0 actually load? Runtime test results

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

Runtimerequire("read-pkg")import "read-pkg"
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✓ works✓ works

How to import read-pkg

ES modules (import)

import readPkg from "read-pkg";

CommonJS (require)

// Node.js 20.19+ / 22.12+ / newer (package has no top-level await):
const readPkg = require("read-pkg");

// Any Node.js version:
const readPkg = await import("read-pkg");

// Or pin the last CommonJS release:
// npm install read-pkg@5.2.0

Module format by version

Derived from the type, main and exports fields of every stable release on npm (19 versions; the newest 19 shown).

VersionsFormatFirst published
6.0.0 – 10.1.0ESM-onlyMar 28, 2021
1.0.0 – 5.2.0CommonJSSep 2, 2015

Frequently asked

Is read-pkg ESM-only?

read-pkg@10.1.0 is ESM-only. read-pkg dropped its CommonJS build in 6.0.0 (March 2021). The last version you can require() on every Node.js version, including 18 and older, is 5.2.0, published Jul 11, 2019.

Which version of read-pkg still supports CommonJS / require()?

5.2.0 is the last version of read-pkg with a CommonJS build. Install it with "npm install read-pkg@5.2.0". Every version from 6.0.0 on is ESM-only.

How do I use read-pkg from a CommonJS file?

Use a dynamic import: const mod = await import("read-pkg"). On Node.js 20.19+, 22.12+ and newer, a plain require("read-pkg") also works for ESM packages that do not use top-level await. Alternatively pin read-pkg@5.2.0.

Does read-pkg work in Bun?

Yes. import "read-pkg" loaded successfully in Bun 1.4 on Sep 9, 2026.

Does read-pkg ship TypeScript types?

Yes. read-pkg bundles its own type declarations; no @types package is needed.

Links

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