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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. Markdown · 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 with a plain require()-able CommonJS entry is 5.2.0, published Jul 11, 2019; it declares support for Node.js >=8.

On Node.js 20.19+, 22.12+ and newer, require("read-pkg") works with the latest version: Node.js loads synchronous ES modules through require(). Verified on Node.js 20, 22, 24 and 26. Node.js 18 has no require(esm), and read-pkg@10.1.0 declares Node.js >=20, so 18 is outside its supported range anyway.

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

What to do

  1. On Node.js 20.19+, 22.12+ and newer, require("read-pkg") 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 readPkg = await import("read-pkg"). That works on every Node.js version the package supports (>=20).
  3. If you need a synchronous require() or run Node.js 18: npm install read-pkg@5.2.0, the last CommonJS release (published Jul 11, 2019); it declares Node.js >=8.
  4. read-pkg@10.1.0 declares engines ">=20", so Node.js 18 is unsupported regardless: upgrade Node.js or pin an older release.
  5. TypeScript: types are bundled; install nothing extra.
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 1.4.0✓ works✓ works

How to import read-pkg

ES modules (import)

import * as readPkg from "read-pkg";

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 readPkg = require("read-pkg");

// Any Node.js version the package supports (>=20), from an async function:
async function main() {
  const readPkg = await import("read-pkg");
}

// Or pin the last CommonJS release (declares Node.js >=8):
// 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, corrected where a runtime test of that version contradicted them (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 with a plain require()-able CommonJS entry is 5.2.0, published Jul 11, 2019; it declares support for Node.js >=8.

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

5.2.0 is the last version of read-pkg with a CommonJS build; it declares Node.js >=8. 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?

From a CommonJS file, use a dynamic import inside an async function: const readPkg = await import("read-pkg"). That works on every Node.js version the package supports (>=20). On Node.js 20.19+, 22.12+ and newer, require("read-pkg") works with the latest version: Node.js loads synchronous ES modules through require(). Verified on Node.js 20, 22, 24 and 26. Alternatively pin read-pkg@5.2.0 (declares Node.js >=8).

Does read-pkg work in Bun?

Yes. import "read-pkg" loaded successfully in Bun 1.4.0 on Sep 9, 2026.

Does read-pkg ship TypeScript types?

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

Links

Other esm-only packages

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