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

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Last verified Sep 9, 2026 against svelte@5.57.0. Markdown · JSON

ESM-only ESM-only since 4.0.0 — last CommonJS version is 3.59.2

svelte dropped its CommonJS build in 4.0.0 (June 2023). The last version with a plain require()-able CommonJS entry is 3.59.2, published Jun 20, 2023; it declares support for Node.js >= 8.

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

What to do

  1. On Node.js 20.19+, 22.12+ and newer, require("svelte") 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 svelte = await import("svelte"). That works on every Node.js version the package supports (>=18).
  3. If you need a synchronous require() or run Node.js 18: npm install svelte@3.59.2, the last CommonJS release (published Jun 20, 2023); it declares Node.js >= 8.
  4. TypeScript: types are bundled; install nothing extra.
Latest
5.57.0 (Aug 28, 2026)
Module format
ESM-only
Last CommonJS version
3.59.2
ESM-only since
4.0.0 (Jun 22, 2023)
TypeScript types
Bundled
Node engines
>=18
Weekly downloads
4.1M
License
MIT

Does svelte@5.57.0 actually load? Runtime test results

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

Runtimerequire("svelte")import "svelte"
Node.js 18✗ failsERR_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 svelte

ES modules (import)

import * as svelte from "svelte";

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 svelte = require("svelte");

// Any Node.js version the package supports (>=18), from an async function:
async function main() {
  const svelte = await import("svelte");
}

// Or pin the last CommonJS release (declares Node.js >= 8):
// npm install svelte@3.59.2

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 (766 versions; the newest 60 shown).

VersionsFormatFirst published
5.47.1 – 5.57.0ESM-onlyJan 19, 2026

Frequently asked

Is svelte ESM-only?

svelte@5.57.0 is ESM-only. svelte dropped its CommonJS build in 4.0.0 (June 2023). The last version with a plain require()-able CommonJS entry is 3.59.2, published Jun 20, 2023; it declares support for Node.js >= 8.

Which version of svelte still supports CommonJS / require()?

3.59.2 is the last version of svelte with a CommonJS build; it declares Node.js >= 8. Install it with "npm install svelte@3.59.2". Every version from 4.0.0 on is ESM-only.

How do I use svelte from a CommonJS file?

From a CommonJS file, use a dynamic import inside an async function: const svelte = await import("svelte"). That works on every Node.js version the package supports (>=18). On Node.js 20.19+, 22.12+ and newer, require("svelte") works with the latest version: Node.js loads synchronous ES modules through require(). Verified on Node.js 20, 22, 24 and 26. Alternatively pin svelte@3.59.2 (declares Node.js >= 8).

Does svelte work in Bun?

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

Does svelte ship TypeScript types?

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

Links

Other esm-only packages

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