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Is semver ESM-only? Can you require() it?

The semantic version parser used by npm.

Last verified Sep 9, 2026 against semver@7.8.5. Markdown · JSON

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

semver ships CommonJS only. require("semver") works on every Node.js version we test (18, 20, 22, 24 and 26) and in Bun. The package declares Node.js >=10. import "semver" 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("semver") works on every Node.js version we test (18, 20, 22, 24 and 26) and in Bun. The package declares Node.js >=10.
  2. From ES modules use the default import: import semver from "semver"; then destructure. Named imports only work when Node.js can statically detect the exports.
  3. TypeScript: npm install -D @types/semver
Latest
7.8.5 (Jun 19, 2026)
Module format
CommonJS
Last CommonJS version
7.8.5
TypeScript types
@types/semver
Node engines
>=10
Weekly downloads
592.8M
License
ISC

Does semver@7.8.5 actually load? Runtime test results

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

Runtimerequire("semver")import "semver"
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 semver

ES modules (import)

import semver from "semver";

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 semver = require("semver");

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 (117 versions; the newest 60 shown).

VersionsFormatFirst published
5.0.3 – 7.8.5CommonJSSep 11, 2015

Frequently asked

Is semver ESM-only?

semver@7.8.5 is a CommonJS package. semver ships CommonJS only. require("semver") works on every Node.js version we test (18, 20, 22, 24 and 26) and in Bun. The package declares Node.js >=10. import "semver" 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 semver with ES module syntax?

Yes. import semver from "semver" 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 semver work in Bun?

Yes. import "semver" loaded successfully in Bun 1.4.0 on Sep 9, 2026.

Does semver ship TypeScript types?

Not bundled. Install the community types with "npm install -D @types/semver".

Links

Other commonjs packages

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