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

> sucrase@3.35.1 is a CommonJS package. CommonJS — require() works on every Node.js version we test.

Super-fast alternative to Babel for when you can target modern JS runtimes

Last verified Sep 9, 2026 against sucrase@3.35.1.

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.

## Facts

- 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

## Runtime test results for sucrase@3.35.1

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

| Runtime | require("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:

```js
import sucrase from "sucrase";
```

CommonJS:

```js
const sucrase = require("sucrase");
```

## Module format by version

Derived from the type, main and exports fields of every stable release on npm (83 versions; the newest 60 shown).

| Versions | Format | First published |
|---|---|---|
| 2.2.0 – 3.35.1 | CommonJS | May 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

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