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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. Markdown · 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 with a plain require()-able CommonJS entry is 3.0.0, published Apr 27, 2019; it declares support for Node.js >=8.

On Node.js 20.19+, 22.12+ and newer, require("shebang-regex") works with the latest version: Node.js loads synchronous ES modules through require(). Verified on Node.js 20, 22, 24 and 26. On Node.js 18, which has no require(esm), require("shebang-regex") fails with ERR_REQUIRE_ESM.

What to do

  1. On Node.js 20.19+, 22.12+ and newer, require("shebang-regex") works with the latest version: Node.js loads synchronous ES modules through require(). Verified on Node.js 20, 22, 24 and 26.
  2. From a CommonJS file, use a dynamic import inside an async function: const shebangRegex = await import("shebang-regex"). That works on every Node.js version the package supports (^12.20.0 || ^14.13.1 || >=16.0.0).
  3. If you need a synchronous require() or run Node.js 18: npm install shebang-regex@3.0.0, the last CommonJS release (published Apr 27, 2019); it declares Node.js >=8.
  4. TypeScript: npm install -D @types/shebang-regex
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 1.4.0✓ works✓ works

How to import shebang-regex

ES modules (import)

import * as shebangRegex from "shebang-regex";

Namespace import shown because the ESM entry may have no default export; use named imports for what it exports.

CommonJS (require)

// Node.js 20.19+, 22.12+ and newer (verified):
const shebangRegex = require("shebang-regex");

// Any Node.js version the package supports (^12.20.0 || ^14.13.1 || >=16.0.0), from an async function:
async function main() {
  const shebangRegex = await import("shebang-regex");
}

// Or pin the last CommonJS release (declares Node.js >=8):
// 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, corrected where a runtime test of that version contradicted them (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 with a plain require()-able CommonJS entry is 3.0.0, published Apr 27, 2019; it declares support for Node.js >=8.

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

3.0.0 is the last version of shebang-regex with a CommonJS build; it declares Node.js >=8. 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?

From a CommonJS file, use a dynamic import inside an async function: const shebangRegex = await import("shebang-regex"). That works on every Node.js version the package supports (^12.20.0 || ^14.13.1 || >=16.0.0). On Node.js 20.19+, 22.12+ and newer, require("shebang-regex") works with the latest version: Node.js loads synchronous ES modules through require(). Verified on Node.js 20, 22, 24 and 26. Alternatively pin shebang-regex@3.0.0 (declares Node.js >=8).

Does shebang-regex work in Bun?

Yes. import "shebang-regex" loaded successfully in Bun 1.4.0 on Sep 9, 2026.

Does shebang-regex ship TypeScript types?

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

Links

Other esm-only packages

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