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

> tinyrainbow@3.1.1 is ESM-only. ESM-only — it has never shipped a CommonJS build.

A small library to print colourful messages.

Last verified Sep 9, 2026 against tinyrainbow@3.1.1.

tinyrainbow has been ESM-only since its first stable release; there is no CommonJS version to pin.

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

## What to do

1. On Node.js 20.19+, 22.12+ and newer, require("tinyrainbow") 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 tinyrainbow = await import("tinyrainbow"). That works on every Node.js version the package supports (>=14.0.0).
3. There is no CommonJS release of tinyrainbow to pin; without require(esm) the only option is a dynamic import().
4. TypeScript: types are bundled; install nothing extra.

## Facts

- Latest: 3.1.1 (Jul 28, 2026)
- Module format: ESM-only
- Last CommonJS version: none
- ESM-only since: 1.0.0 (Apr 13, 2023)
- TypeScript types: bundled
- Node engines: >=14.0.0
- Weekly downloads: 103.3M
- License: MIT

## Runtime test results for tinyrainbow@3.1.1

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

| Runtime | require("tinyrainbow") | import "tinyrainbow" |
|---|---|---|
| Node.js 18 | fails (ERR_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 tinyrainbow

ES modules:

```js
import * as tinyrainbow from "tinyrainbow";
```

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

CommonJS:

```js
// Node.js 20.19+, 22.12+ and newer (verified):
const tinyrainbow = require("tinyrainbow");

// Any Node.js version the package supports (>=14.0.0), from an async function:
async function main() {
  const tinyrainbow = await import("tinyrainbow");
}
```

## Module format by version

Derived from the type, main and exports fields of every stable release on npm (12 versions; the newest 12 shown).

| Versions | Format | First published |
|---|---|---|
| 1.0.0 – 3.1.1 | ESM-only | Apr 13, 2023 |

## Frequently asked

**Is tinyrainbow ESM-only?**

tinyrainbow@3.1.1 is ESM-only. tinyrainbow has been ESM-only since its first stable release; there is no CommonJS version to pin.

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

None. tinyrainbow has always been ESM-only. Use import, or a dynamic import("tinyrainbow") from an async function in CommonJS.

**How do I use tinyrainbow from a CommonJS file?**

From a CommonJS file, use a dynamic import inside an async function: const tinyrainbow = await import("tinyrainbow"). That works on every Node.js version the package supports (>=14.0.0). On Node.js 20.19+, 22.12+ and newer, require("tinyrainbow") works with the latest version: Node.js loads synchronous ES modules through require(). Verified on Node.js 20, 22, 24 and 26.

**Does tinyrainbow work in Bun?**

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

**Does tinyrainbow ship TypeScript types?**

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

## Links

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

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