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Is sucrase ESM-only? Can you require() it?

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Last verified Sep 9, 2026 against sucrase@3.35.1. Markdown · JSON

CommonJS CommonJS — require() works on every Node.js version we test

sucrase ships CommonJS only. require("sucrase") works on every Node.js version we test (18, 20, 22, 24 and 26) and in Bun. The package declares Node.js >=16 || 14 >=14.17. import "sucrase" also works because Node.js and Bun can import CommonJS from ES modules, but only the default export is guaranteed; named imports depend on Node's static analysis of the module.

It also declares a "module" field, so bundlers such as webpack, Vite and esbuild pick up an ESM build for tree-shaking.

What to do

  1. require("sucrase") works on every Node.js version we test (18, 20, 22, 24 and 26) and in Bun. The package declares Node.js >=16 || 14 >=14.17.
  2. From ES modules use the default import: import sucrase from "sucrase"; then destructure. Named imports only work when Node.js can statically detect the exports.
  3. TypeScript: types are bundled; install nothing extra.
Latest
3.35.1 (Nov 19, 2025)
Module format
CommonJS
Last CommonJS version
3.35.1
TypeScript types
Bundled
Node engines
>=16 || 14 >=14.17
Weekly downloads
42.3M
License
MIT

Does sucrase@3.35.1 actually load? Runtime test results

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

Runtimerequire("sucrase")import "sucrase"
Node.js 18✓ works✓ 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 sucrase

ES modules (import)

import sucrase from "sucrase";

Named imports from a CommonJS package only work when Node.js can statically detect them. If a named import fails, use the default import and destructure.

CommonJS (require)

const sucrase = require("sucrase");

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 (83 versions; the newest 60 shown).

VersionsFormatFirst published
2.2.0 – 3.35.1CommonJSMay 20, 2018

Frequently asked

Is sucrase ESM-only?

sucrase@3.35.1 is a CommonJS package. sucrase ships CommonJS only. require("sucrase") works on every Node.js version we test (18, 20, 22, 24 and 26) and in Bun. The package declares Node.js >=16 || 14 >=14.17. import "sucrase" also works because Node.js and Bun can import CommonJS from ES modules, but only the default export is guaranteed; named imports depend on Node's static analysis of the module.

Can I import sucrase with ES module syntax?

Yes. import sucrase from "sucrase" works in Node.js and Bun because they support importing CommonJS modules. Named imports work only when Node.js can statically detect the exports.

Does sucrase work in Bun?

Yes. import "sucrase" loaded successfully in Bun 1.4.0 on Sep 9, 2026.

Does sucrase ship TypeScript types?

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

Links

Other commonjs packages

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