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Is safe-buffer ESM-only? Can you require() it?

Safer Node.js Buffer API

Last verified Sep 9, 2026 against safe-buffer@5.2.1. Markdown · JSON

CommonJS CommonJS — require() works on every Node.js version we test

safe-buffer ships CommonJS only. require("safe-buffer") works on every Node.js version we test (18, 20, 22, 24 and 26) and in Bun. import "safe-buffer" 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("safe-buffer") works on every Node.js version we test (18, 20, 22, 24 and 26) and in Bun.
  2. From ES modules use the default import: import safeBuffer from "safe-buffer"; then destructure. Named imports only work when Node.js can statically detect the exports.
  3. TypeScript: types are bundled; install nothing extra.
Latest
5.2.1 (May 10, 2020)
Module format
CommonJS
Last CommonJS version
5.2.1
TypeScript types
Bundled
Node engines
not declared
Weekly downloads
275.9M
License
MIT

Does safe-buffer@5.2.1 actually load? Runtime test results

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

Runtimerequire("safe-buffer")import "safe-buffer"
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 safe-buffer

ES modules (import)

import safeBuffer from "safe-buffer";

Named imports from a CommonJS package only work when Node.js can statically detect them. If a named import fails, use the default import and destructure.

CommonJS (require)

const safeBuffer = require("safe-buffer");

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 (11 versions; the newest 11 shown).

VersionsFormatFirst published
1.0.0 – 5.2.1CommonJSJan 13, 2016

Frequently asked

Is safe-buffer ESM-only?

safe-buffer@5.2.1 is a CommonJS package. safe-buffer ships CommonJS only. require("safe-buffer") works on every Node.js version we test (18, 20, 22, 24 and 26) and in Bun. import "safe-buffer" 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 safe-buffer with ES module syntax?

Yes. import safeBuffer from "safe-buffer" 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 safe-buffer work in Bun?

Yes. import "safe-buffer" loaded successfully in Bun 1.4.0 on Sep 9, 2026.

Does safe-buffer ship TypeScript types?

Yes. safe-buffer bundles its own type declarations; no @types package is needed.

Links

Other commonjs packages

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