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

tar for node

Last verified Sep 9, 2026 against tar@7.5.22. Markdown · JSON

Dual (CommonJS + ESM) Dual package — require() works on every Node.js version we test; import works too

tar publishes both a CommonJS entry and a native ESM entry (ESM added in 7.0.0). require("tar") works on every Node.js version we test (18, 20, 22, 24 and 26) and in Bun. The package declares Node.js >=18. import "tar" works alongside it.

What to do

  1. Nothing to change. require("tar") works on every Node.js version we test (18, 20, 22, 24 and 26) and in Bun. The package declares Node.js >=18. import * as tar from "tar" works alongside it; use named imports for what the ESM entry exports.
  2. TypeScript: types are bundled; install nothing extra.
Latest
7.5.22 (Jul 24, 2026)
Module format
Dual (CommonJS + ESM)
Last CommonJS version
7.5.22
Native ESM since
7.0.0
TypeScript types
Bundled
Node engines
>=18
Weekly downloads
76.1M
License
BlueOak-1.0.0

Does tar@7.5.22 actually load? Runtime test results

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

Runtimerequire("tar")import "tar"
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 tar

ES modules (import)

import * as tar from "tar";

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

CommonJS (require)

const tar = require("tar");

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 (153 versions; the newest 60 shown).

VersionsFormatFirst published
7.0.0 – 7.5.22Dual (CommonJS + ESM)Apr 10, 2024
5.0.9 – 6.2.1CommonJSAug 11, 2021

Frequently asked

Is tar ESM-only?

tar@7.5.22 ships CommonJS and ESM builds. tar publishes both a CommonJS entry and a native ESM entry (ESM added in 7.0.0). require("tar") works on every Node.js version we test (18, 20, 22, 24 and 26) and in Bun. The package declares Node.js >=18. import "tar" works alongside it.

Can I require tar?

Yes. tar ships a CommonJS entry alongside the native ESM entry. require("tar") works on every Node.js version we test (18, 20, 22, 24 and 26) and in Bun. The package declares Node.js >=18.

Does tar work in Bun?

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

Does tar ship TypeScript types?

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

Links

Other dual (commonjs + esm) packages

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