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

> storybook@10.6.0 is ESM-only. ESM-only since 10.0.0 — last CommonJS version is 9.1.20.

Storybook: Develop, document, and test UI components in isolation

Last verified Sep 9, 2026 against storybook@10.6.0.

storybook dropped its CommonJS build in 10.0.0 (October 2025). The last version with a plain require()-able CommonJS entry is 9.1.20, published Mar 5, 2026.

storybook exposes only subpaths in its exports map, for example "storybook/test"; there is no root entry, so import "storybook" itself throws ERR_PACKAGE_PATH_NOT_EXPORTED. Import the subpath you need instead.

require("storybook") failed in our probe on Node.js 20+ as well; see the runtime table for the error before relying on it. On Node.js 18, which has no require(esm), require("storybook") fails with ERR_REQUIRE_ESM.

## What to do

1. Import subpaths, never the bare name: import from "storybook/test". import "storybook" throws ERR_PACKAGE_PATH_NOT_EXPORTED.
2. require("storybook") failed in our probe on Node.js 20+ as well; see the runtime table for the error before relying on it.
3. From a CommonJS file, use a dynamic import inside an async function: const storybook = await import("storybook/test"). That works on every Node.js version the package supports.
4. If you need a synchronous require() or run Node.js 18: npm install storybook@9.1.20, the last CommonJS release (published Mar 5, 2026).
5. TypeScript: types are bundled; install nothing extra.

## Facts

- Latest: 10.6.0 (Sep 2, 2026)
- Module format: ESM-only
- Last CommonJS version: 9.1.20
- ESM-only since: 10.0.0 (Oct 28, 2025)
- TypeScript types: bundled
- Node engines: not declared
- Weekly downloads: 19.5M
- License: MIT

## Runtime test results for storybook@10.6.0

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

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

## How to import storybook

ES modules:

```js
import * as storybook from "storybook/test";
```

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

CommonJS:

```js
// require("storybook/test") failed in our probe on Node.js 20.19+, 22.12+ and newer as well; see the runtime table.

// Any Node.js version the package supports, from an async function:
async function main() {
  const storybook = await import("storybook/test");
}

// Or pin the last CommonJS release:
// npm install storybook@9.1.20
```

## Module format by version

Derived from the type, main and exports fields of every stable release on npm (395 versions; the newest 60 shown).

| Versions | Format | First published |
|---|---|---|
| 10.0.7 – 10.6.0 | ESM-only | Nov 11, 2025 |

## Frequently asked

**Is storybook ESM-only?**

storybook@10.6.0 is ESM-only. storybook dropped its CommonJS build in 10.0.0 (October 2025). The last version with a plain require()-able CommonJS entry is 9.1.20, published Mar 5, 2026.

**Which version of storybook still supports CommonJS / require()?**

9.1.20 is the last version of storybook with a CommonJS build. Install it with "npm install storybook@9.1.20". Every version from 10.0.0 on is ESM-only.

**How do I use storybook from a CommonJS file?**

From a CommonJS file, use a dynamic import inside an async function: const storybook = await import("storybook/test"). That works on every Node.js version the package supports. require("storybook") failed in our probe on Node.js 20+ as well; see the runtime table for the error before relying on it. Alternatively pin storybook@9.1.20.

**Does storybook work in Bun?**

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

**Does storybook ship TypeScript types?**

Yes. storybook bundles its own type declarations; no @types package is needed.

## Links

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

---

For scripts and AI agents: any package is at https://canirequire.com/package/<name>/index.md (Markdown) or https://canirequire.com/package/<name>.json (JSON); the site index is https://canirequire.com/llms.txt. Fetch the URL directly; no search needed.