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Is replace-in-file ESM-only? Can you require() it?

A simple utility to quickly replace text in one or more files.

Last verified Sep 9, 2026 against replace-in-file@9.0.0. JSON

ESM-only ESM-only since 8.0.0 — last CommonJS version is 7.2.0

replace-in-file dropped its CommonJS build in 8.0.0 (June 2024). The last version you can require() on every Node.js version, including 18 and older, is 7.2.0, published May 26, 2024.

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

replace-in-file@9.0.0 declares engines ">=22.12.0", so Node.js 18, 20 are outside its supported range regardless of module format.

Latest
9.0.0 (Aug 2, 2026)
Module format
ESM-only
Last CommonJS version
7.2.0
ESM-only since
8.0.0 (Jun 24, 2024)
TypeScript types
Bundled
Node engines
>=22.12.0
Weekly downloads
1.0M
License
MIT

Does replace-in-file@9.0.0 actually load? Runtime test results

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

Runtimerequire("replace-in-file")import "replace-in-file"
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 replace-in-file

ES modules (import)

import replaceInFile from "replace-in-file";

CommonJS (require)

// Node.js 20.19+ / 22.12+ / newer (package has no top-level await):
const replaceInFile = require("replace-in-file");

// Any Node.js version:
const replaceInFile = await import("replace-in-file");

// Or pin the last CommonJS release:
// npm install replace-in-file@7.2.0

Module format by version

Derived from the type, main and exports fields of every stable release on npm (82 versions; the newest 60 shown).

VersionsFormatFirst published
8.0.0 – 9.0.0ESM-onlyJun 24, 2024
2.2.2 – 7.2.0CommonJSJan 25, 2017

Frequently asked

Is replace-in-file ESM-only?

replace-in-file@9.0.0 is ESM-only. replace-in-file dropped its CommonJS build in 8.0.0 (June 2024). The last version you can require() on every Node.js version, including 18 and older, is 7.2.0, published May 26, 2024.

Which version of replace-in-file still supports CommonJS / require()?

7.2.0 is the last version of replace-in-file with a CommonJS build. Install it with "npm install replace-in-file@7.2.0". Every version from 8.0.0 on is ESM-only.

How do I use replace-in-file from a CommonJS file?

Use a dynamic import: const mod = await import("replace-in-file"). On Node.js 20.19+, 22.12+ and newer, a plain require("replace-in-file") also works for ESM packages that do not use top-level await. Alternatively pin replace-in-file@7.2.0.

Does replace-in-file work in Bun?

Yes. import "replace-in-file" loaded successfully in Bun 1.4 on Sep 9, 2026.

Does replace-in-file ship TypeScript types?

Yes. replace-in-file bundles its own type declarations; no @types package is needed.

Links

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