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Is string-length ESM-only? Can you require() it?

Get the real length of a string - by correctly counting astral symbols and ignoring ansi escape codes

Last verified Sep 9, 2026 against string-length@7.0.1. JSON

ESM-only ESM-only since 5.0.0 — last CommonJS version is 4.0.2

string-length dropped its CommonJS build in 5.0.0 (June 2021). The last version you can require() on every Node.js version, including 18 and older, is 4.0.2, published Mar 17, 2021.

On Node.js 20.19+, 22.12+ and every newer release, require("string-length") 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.

string-length@7.0.1 declares engines ">=20", so Node.js 18 is outside its supported range regardless of module format.

Latest
7.0.1 (Jan 21, 2026)
Module format
ESM-only
Last CommonJS version
4.0.2
ESM-only since
5.0.0 (Jun 5, 2021)
TypeScript types
Bundled
Node engines
>=20
Weekly downloads
46.6M
License
MIT

Does string-length@7.0.1 actually load? Runtime test results

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

Runtimerequire("string-length")import "string-length"
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 string-length

ES modules (import)

import stringLength from "string-length";

CommonJS (require)

// Node.js 20.19+ / 22.12+ / newer (package has no top-level await):
const stringLength = require("string-length");

// Any Node.js version:
const stringLength = await import("string-length");

// Or pin the last CommonJS release:
// npm install string-length@4.0.2

Module format by version

Derived from the type, main and exports fields of every stable release on npm (16 versions; the newest 16 shown).

VersionsFormatFirst published
5.0.0 – 7.0.1ESM-onlyJun 5, 2021
0.1.0 – 4.0.2CommonJSApr 16, 2014

Frequently asked

Is string-length ESM-only?

string-length@7.0.1 is ESM-only. string-length dropped its CommonJS build in 5.0.0 (June 2021). The last version you can require() on every Node.js version, including 18 and older, is 4.0.2, published Mar 17, 2021.

Which version of string-length still supports CommonJS / require()?

4.0.2 is the last version of string-length with a CommonJS build. Install it with "npm install string-length@4.0.2". Every version from 5.0.0 on is ESM-only.

How do I use string-length from a CommonJS file?

Use a dynamic import: const mod = await import("string-length"). On Node.js 20.19+, 22.12+ and newer, a plain require("string-length") also works for ESM packages that do not use top-level await. Alternatively pin string-length@4.0.2.

Does string-length work in Bun?

Yes. import "string-length" loaded successfully in Bun 1.4 on Sep 9, 2026.

Does string-length ship TypeScript types?

Yes. string-length bundles its own type declarations; no @types package is needed.

Links

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