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

> require-from-string@2.0.2 is a CommonJS package. CommonJS — require() works on every Node.js version we test.

Require module from string

Last verified Sep 9, 2026 against require-from-string@2.0.2.

require-from-string ships CommonJS only. require("require-from-string") works on every Node.js version we test (18, 20, 22, 24 and 26) and in Bun. The package declares Node.js >=0.10.0. import "require-from-string" also works because Node.js and Bun can import CommonJS from ES modules, but only the default export is guaranteed; named imports depend on Node's static analysis of the module.

## What to do

1. require("require-from-string") works on every Node.js version we test (18, 20, 22, 24 and 26) and in Bun. The package declares Node.js >=0.10.0.
2. From ES modules use the default import: import requireFromString from "require-from-string"; then destructure. Named imports only work when Node.js can statically detect the exports.
3. TypeScript: npm install -D @types/require-from-string

## Facts

- Latest: 2.0.2 (Apr 9, 2018)
- Module format: CommonJS
- Last CommonJS version: 2.0.2
- TypeScript types: @types/require-from-string
- Node engines: >=0.10.0
- Weekly downloads: 120.1M
- License: MIT

## Runtime test results for require-from-string@2.0.2

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

| Runtime | require("require-from-string") | import "require-from-string" |
|---|---|---|
| Node.js 18 | works | 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 require-from-string

ES modules:

```js
import requireFromString from "require-from-string";
```

CommonJS:

```js
const requireFromString = require("require-from-string");
```

## Module format by version

Derived from the type, main and exports fields of every stable release on npm (9 versions; the newest 9 shown).

| Versions | Format | First published |
|---|---|---|
| 1.0.0 – 2.0.2 | CommonJS | Jul 18, 2015 |

## Frequently asked

**Is require-from-string ESM-only?**

require-from-string@2.0.2 is a CommonJS package. require-from-string ships CommonJS only. require("require-from-string") works on every Node.js version we test (18, 20, 22, 24 and 26) and in Bun. The package declares Node.js >=0.10.0. import "require-from-string" also works because Node.js and Bun can import CommonJS from ES modules, but only the default export is guaranteed; named imports depend on Node's static analysis of the module.

**Can I import require-from-string with ES module syntax?**

Yes. import requireFromString from "require-from-string" works in Node.js and Bun because they support importing CommonJS modules. Named imports work only when Node.js can statically detect the exports.

**Does require-from-string work in Bun?**

Yes. import "require-from-string" loaded successfully in Bun 1.4.0 on Sep 9, 2026.

**Does require-from-string ship TypeScript types?**

Not bundled. Install the community types with "npm install -D @types/require-from-string".

## Links

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

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