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

> strip-bom@5.0.0 is ESM-only. ESM-only since 5.0.0 — last CommonJS version is 4.0.0.

Strip UTF-8 byte order mark (BOM) from a string

Last verified Sep 9, 2026 against strip-bom@5.0.0.

strip-bom dropped its CommonJS build in 5.0.0 (April 2021). The last version with a plain require()-able CommonJS entry is 4.0.0, published Apr 28, 2019; it declares support for Node.js >=8.

On Node.js 20.19+, 22.12+ and newer, require("strip-bom") 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("strip-bom") fails with ERR_REQUIRE_ESM.

## What to do

1. On Node.js 20.19+, 22.12+ and newer, require("strip-bom") 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 stripBom = await import("strip-bom"). That works on every Node.js version the package supports (>=12).
3. If you need a synchronous require() or run Node.js 18: npm install strip-bom@4.0.0, the last CommonJS release (published Apr 28, 2019); it declares Node.js >=8.
4. TypeScript: npm install -D @types/strip-bom

## Facts

- Latest: 5.0.0 (Apr 16, 2021)
- Module format: ESM-only
- Last CommonJS version: 4.0.0
- ESM-only since: 5.0.0 (Apr 16, 2021)
- TypeScript types: @types/strip-bom
- Node engines: >=12
- Weekly downloads: 136.6M
- License: MIT

## Runtime test results for strip-bom@5.0.0

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

| Runtime | require("strip-bom") | import "strip-bom" |
|---|---|---|
| Node.js 18 | fails (ERR_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 strip-bom

ES modules:

```js
import * as stripBom from "strip-bom";
```

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

CommonJS:

```js
// Node.js 20.19+, 22.12+ and newer (verified):
const stripBom = require("strip-bom");

// Any Node.js version the package supports (>=12), from an async function:
async function main() {
  const stripBom = await import("strip-bom");
}

// Or pin the last CommonJS release (declares Node.js >=8):
// npm install strip-bom@4.0.0
```

## Module format by version

Derived from the type, main and exports fields of every stable release on npm (10 versions; the newest 10 shown).

| Versions | Format | First published |
|---|---|---|
| 5.0.0 | ESM-only | Apr 16, 2021 |
| 0.1.0 – 4.0.0 | CommonJS | Apr 4, 2014 |

## Frequently asked

**Is strip-bom ESM-only?**

strip-bom@5.0.0 is ESM-only. strip-bom dropped its CommonJS build in 5.0.0 (April 2021). The last version with a plain require()-able CommonJS entry is 4.0.0, published Apr 28, 2019; it declares support for Node.js >=8.

**Which version of strip-bom still supports CommonJS / require()?**

4.0.0 is the last version of strip-bom with a CommonJS build; it declares Node.js >=8. Install it with "npm install strip-bom@4.0.0". Every version from 5.0.0 on is ESM-only.

**How do I use strip-bom from a CommonJS file?**

From a CommonJS file, use a dynamic import inside an async function: const stripBom = await import("strip-bom"). That works on every Node.js version the package supports (>=12). On Node.js 20.19+, 22.12+ and newer, require("strip-bom") works with the latest version: Node.js loads synchronous ES modules through require(). Verified on Node.js 20, 22, 24 and 26. Alternatively pin strip-bom@4.0.0 (declares Node.js >=8).

**Does strip-bom work in Bun?**

Yes. import "strip-bom" loaded successfully in Bun 1.4.0 on Sep 9, 2026.

**Does strip-bom ship TypeScript types?**

Not bundled. Install the community types with "npm install -D @types/strip-bom".

## Links

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

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