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Is shebang-regex ESM-only? Can you require() it?

Regular expression for matching a shebang line

Last verified Sep 9, 2026 against shebang-regex@4.0.0. JSON

ESM-only ESM-only since 4.0.0 — last CommonJS version is 3.0.0

shebang-regex dropped its CommonJS build in 4.0.0 (August 2021). The last version you can require() on every Node.js version, including 18 and older, is 3.0.0, published Apr 27, 2019.

On Node.js 20.19+, 22.12+ and every newer release, require("shebang-regex") works anyway: Node can load synchronous ES modules through require(). Verified on Node 20, 22, 24, 26. Node.js 18 and older still fail with ERR_REQUIRE_ESM.

Latest
4.0.0 (Aug 13, 2021)
Module format
ESM-only
Last CommonJS version
3.0.0
ESM-only since
4.0.0 (Aug 13, 2021)
TypeScript types
@types/shebang-regex
Node engines
^12.20.0 || ^14.13.1 || >=16.0.0
Weekly downloads
200.2M
License
MIT

Does shebang-regex@4.0.0 actually load? Runtime test results

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

Runtimerequire("shebang-regex")import "shebang-regex"
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 shebang-regex

ES modules (import)

import shebangRegex from "shebang-regex";

CommonJS (require)

// Node.js 20.19+ / 22.12+ / newer (package has no top-level await):
const shebangRegex = require("shebang-regex");

// Any Node.js version:
const shebangRegex = await import("shebang-regex");

// Or pin the last CommonJS release:
// npm install shebang-regex@3.0.0

Module format by version

Derived from the type, main and exports fields of every stable release on npm (4 versions; the newest 4 shown).

VersionsFormatFirst published
4.0.0ESM-onlyAug 13, 2021
1.0.0 – 3.0.0CommonJSFeb 17, 2015

Frequently asked

Is shebang-regex ESM-only?

shebang-regex@4.0.0 is ESM-only. shebang-regex dropped its CommonJS build in 4.0.0 (August 2021). The last version you can require() on every Node.js version, including 18 and older, is 3.0.0, published Apr 27, 2019.

Which version of shebang-regex still supports CommonJS / require()?

3.0.0 is the last version of shebang-regex with a CommonJS build. Install it with "npm install shebang-regex@3.0.0". Every version from 4.0.0 on is ESM-only.

How do I use shebang-regex from a CommonJS file?

Use a dynamic import: const mod = await import("shebang-regex"). On Node.js 20.19+, 22.12+ and newer, a plain require("shebang-regex") also works for ESM packages that do not use top-level await. Alternatively pin shebang-regex@3.0.0.

Does shebang-regex work in Bun?

Yes. import "shebang-regex" loaded successfully in Bun 1.4 on Sep 9, 2026.

Does shebang-regex ship TypeScript types?

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

Links

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