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

> supports-color@11.0.0 is ESM-only. ESM-only since 9.0.0 — last CommonJS version is 8.1.1.

Detect whether a terminal supports color

Last verified Sep 9, 2026 against supports-color@11.0.0.

supports-color dropped its CommonJS build in 9.0.0 (April 2021). The last version with a plain require()-able CommonJS entry is 8.1.1, published Jan 23, 2021; it declares support for Node.js >=10.

On Node.js 22.12+ and newer (supports-color@11.0.0 declares Node.js >=22), require("supports-color") works with the latest version: Node.js loads synchronous ES modules through require(). Verified on Node.js 22, 24 and 26. Node.js 18 has no require(esm), and supports-color@11.0.0 declares Node.js >=22, so 18 is outside its supported range anyway.

supports-color@11.0.0 declares engines ">=22", so Node.js 18, 20 are outside its supported range regardless of module format.

## What to do

1. On Node.js 22.12+ and newer (supports-color@11.0.0 declares Node.js >=22), require("supports-color") works with the latest version: Node.js loads synchronous ES modules through require(). Verified on Node.js 22, 24 and 26.
2. From a CommonJS file, use a dynamic import inside an async function: const supportsColor = await import("supports-color"). That works on every Node.js version the package supports (>=22).
3. If you need a synchronous require() or run Node.js 18: npm install supports-color@8.1.1, the last CommonJS release (published Jan 23, 2021); it declares Node.js >=10.
4. supports-color@11.0.0 declares engines ">=22", so Node.js 18, 20 are unsupported regardless: upgrade Node.js or pin an older release.
5. TypeScript: types are bundled; install nothing extra.

## Facts

- Latest: 11.0.0 (Jul 26, 2026)
- Module format: ESM-only
- Last CommonJS version: 8.1.1
- ESM-only since: 9.0.0 (Apr 16, 2021)
- TypeScript types: bundled
- Node engines: >=22
- Weekly downloads: 441.6M
- License: MIT

## Runtime test results for supports-color@11.0.0

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

| Runtime | require("supports-color") | import "supports-color" |
|---|---|---|
| Node.js 18 | fails (ERR_REQUIRE_ESM) | fails (SyntaxError) |
| 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 supports-color

ES modules:

```js
import * as supportsColor from "supports-color";
```

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

CommonJS:

```js
// Node.js 22.12+ and newer (verified):
const supportsColor = require("supports-color");

// Any Node.js version the package supports (>=22), from an async function:
async function main() {
  const supportsColor = await import("supports-color");
}

// Or pin the last CommonJS release (declares Node.js >=10):
// npm install supports-color@8.1.1
```

## Module format by version

Derived from the type, main and exports fields of every stable release on npm (55 versions; the newest 55 shown).

| Versions | Format | First published |
|---|---|---|
| 9.0.0 – 11.0.0 | ESM-only | Apr 16, 2021 |
| 0.2.0 – 8.1.1 | CommonJS | Jun 14, 2014 |

## Frequently asked

**Is supports-color ESM-only?**

supports-color@11.0.0 is ESM-only. supports-color dropped its CommonJS build in 9.0.0 (April 2021). The last version with a plain require()-able CommonJS entry is 8.1.1, published Jan 23, 2021; it declares support for Node.js >=10.

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

8.1.1 is the last version of supports-color with a CommonJS build; it declares Node.js >=10. Install it with "npm install supports-color@8.1.1". Every version from 9.0.0 on is ESM-only.

**How do I use supports-color from a CommonJS file?**

From a CommonJS file, use a dynamic import inside an async function: const supportsColor = await import("supports-color"). That works on every Node.js version the package supports (>=22). On Node.js 22.12+ and newer (supports-color@11.0.0 declares Node.js >=22), require("supports-color") works with the latest version: Node.js loads synchronous ES modules through require(). Verified on Node.js 22, 24 and 26. Alternatively pin supports-color@8.1.1 (declares Node.js >=10).

**Does supports-color work in Bun?**

Yes. import "supports-color" loaded successfully in Bun 1.4.0 on Sep 9, 2026.

**Does supports-color ship TypeScript types?**

Yes. supports-color bundles its own type declarations; no @types package is needed.

## Links

- [supports-color on npm](https://www.npmjs.com/package/supports-color)
- [Source repository](https://github.com/chalk/supports-color)
- [HTML version](https://canirequire.com/package/supports-color/)
- [JSON version](https://canirequire.com/package/supports-color.json)

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