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

Get the visual width of a string - the number of columns required to display it

Last verified Sep 9, 2026 against string-width@8.2.2. Markdown · JSON

ESM-only ESM-only since 5.0.0 — last CommonJS version is 4.2.3

string-width dropped its CommonJS build in 5.0.0 (April 2021). The last version with a plain require()-able CommonJS entry is 4.2.3, published Sep 23, 2021; it declares support for Node.js >=8.

On Node.js 20.19+, 22.12+ and newer, require("string-width") works with the latest version: Node.js loads synchronous ES modules through require(). Verified on Node.js 20, 22, 24 and 26. Node.js 18 has no require(esm), and string-width@8.2.2 declares Node.js >=20, so 18 is outside its supported range anyway.

string-width@8.2.2 declares engines ">=20", so Node.js 18 is outside its supported range regardless of module format.

What to do

  1. On Node.js 20.19+, 22.12+ and newer, require("string-width") 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 stringWidth = await import("string-width"). That works on every Node.js version the package supports (>=20).
  3. If you need a synchronous require() or run Node.js 18: npm install string-width@4.2.3, the last CommonJS release (published Sep 23, 2021); it declares Node.js >=8.
  4. string-width@8.2.2 declares engines ">=20", so Node.js 18 is unsupported regardless: upgrade Node.js or pin an older release.
  5. TypeScript: types are bundled; install nothing extra.
Latest
8.2.2 (Jul 8, 2026)
Module format
ESM-only
Last CommonJS version
4.2.3
ESM-only since
5.0.0 (Apr 16, 2021)
TypeScript types
Bundled
Node engines
>=20
Weekly downloads
350.0M
License
MIT

Does string-width@8.2.2 actually load? Runtime test results

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

Runtimerequire("string-width")import "string-width"
Node.js 18✗ failsERR_REQUIRE_ESM✗ failsSyntaxError
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 string-width

ES modules (import)

import * as stringWidth from "string-width";

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 stringWidth = require("string-width");

// Any Node.js version the package supports (>=20), from an async function:
async function main() {
  const stringWidth = await import("string-width");
}

// Or pin the last CommonJS release (declares Node.js >=8):
// npm install string-width@4.2.3

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 (30 versions; the newest 30 shown).

VersionsFormatFirst published
5.0.0 – 8.2.2ESM-onlyApr 16, 2021
1.0.0 – 4.2.3CommonJSJul 16, 2015

Frequently asked

Is string-width ESM-only?

string-width@8.2.2 is ESM-only. string-width dropped its CommonJS build in 5.0.0 (April 2021). The last version with a plain require()-able CommonJS entry is 4.2.3, published Sep 23, 2021; it declares support for Node.js >=8.

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

4.2.3 is the last version of string-width with a CommonJS build; it declares Node.js >=8. Install it with "npm install string-width@4.2.3". Every version from 5.0.0 on is ESM-only.

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

From a CommonJS file, use a dynamic import inside an async function: const stringWidth = await import("string-width"). That works on every Node.js version the package supports (>=20). On Node.js 20.19+, 22.12+ and newer, require("string-width") works with the latest version: Node.js loads synchronous ES modules through require(). Verified on Node.js 20, 22, 24 and 26. Alternatively pin string-width@4.2.3 (declares Node.js >=8).

Does string-width work in Bun?

Yes. import "string-width" loaded successfully in Bun 1.4.0 on Sep 9, 2026.

Does string-width ship TypeScript types?

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

Links

Other esm-only packages

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