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

> serve@14.2.6 has no importable main entry. No JavaScript entry point.

Static file serving and directory listing

Last verified Sep 9, 2026 against serve@14.2.6.

serve does not expose a JavaScript entry point in package.json. It is likely a CLI, a stylesheet, a type-definition package, or an asset bundle, so require() and import are not the way to use it.

## What to do

1. Do not require() or import serve: it has no JavaScript entry point. Use it as a CLI (npx serve), a stylesheet, an asset, or a type-definition package as its README describes.
2. TypeScript: no types are available for serve; declare the module yourself if you need them.

## Facts

- Latest: 14.2.6 (Mar 3, 2026)
- Module format: No JS entry point
- Last CommonJS version: 6.5.8
- TypeScript types: none
- Node engines: >= 14
- Weekly downloads: 2.9M
- License: MIT

## Runtime test results for serve@14.2.6

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

| Runtime | require("serve") | import "serve" |
|---|---|---|
| Node.js 18 | fails (MODULE_NOT_FOUND) | fails (ERR_MODULE_NOT_FOUND) |
| Node.js 20 | fails (MODULE_NOT_FOUND) | fails (ERR_MODULE_NOT_FOUND) |
| Node.js 22 | fails (MODULE_NOT_FOUND) | fails (ERR_MODULE_NOT_FOUND) |
| Node.js 24 | fails (MODULE_NOT_FOUND) | fails (ERR_MODULE_NOT_FOUND) |
| Node.js 26 | fails (MODULE_NOT_FOUND) | fails (ERR_MODULE_NOT_FOUND) |
| Bun 1.4.0 | fails (Error) | fails (Error) |

## How to import serve

ES modules:

```js
import * as serve from "serve";
```

## Module format by version

Derived from the type, main and exports fields of every stable release on npm (154 versions; the newest 60 shown).

| Versions | Format | First published |
|---|---|---|
| 7.0.0 – 14.2.6 | No JS entry point | May 28, 2018 |

## Frequently asked

**Is serve ESM-only?**

serve@14.2.6 has no importable main entry. serve does not expose a JavaScript entry point in package.json. It is likely a CLI, a stylesheet, a type-definition package, or an asset bundle, so require() and import are not the way to use it.

**Does serve work in Bun?**

Importing serve failed in Bun 1.4.0 on Sep 9, 2026: error: Cannot find package 'serve' from '/Users/boat/Projects/top-seo/data/probe-work/serve/imp.mjs'

**Does serve ship TypeScript types?**

No. serve ships no type declarations and there is no @types package for it.

## Links

- [serve on npm](https://www.npmjs.com/package/serve)
- [Source repository](https://github.com/vercel/serve)
- [HTML version](https://canirequire.com/package/serve/)
- [JSON version](https://canirequire.com/package/serve.json)

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