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

> tsx@4.23.13 is ESM-only. ESM-only — it has never shipped a CommonJS build.

TypeScript Execute (tsx): Node.js enhanced with esbuild to run TypeScript & ESM files

Last verified Sep 9, 2026 against tsx@4.23.13.

tsx 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("tsx") 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("tsx") fails with ERR_REQUIRE_ESM.

## What to do

1. On Node.js 20.19+, 22.12+ and newer, require("tsx") 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 tsx = await import("tsx"). That works on every Node.js version the package supports (>=18.0.0).
3. There is no CommonJS release of tsx to pin; without require(esm) the only option is a dynamic import().
4. TypeScript: types are bundled; install nothing extra.

## Facts

- Latest: 4.23.13 (Aug 30, 2026)
- Module format: ESM-only
- Last CommonJS version: none
- ESM-only since: 3.2.0 (May 17, 2022)
- TypeScript types: bundled
- Node engines: >=18.0.0
- Weekly downloads: 61.9M
- License: MIT

## Runtime test results for tsx@4.23.13

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

| Runtime | require("tsx") | import "tsx" |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | fails (Error) | fails (Error) |

## How to import tsx

ES modules:

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

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 tsx = require("tsx");

// Any Node.js version the package supports (>=18.0.0), from an async function:
async function main() {
  const tsx = await import("tsx");
}
```

## Module format by version

Derived from the type, main and exports fields of every stable release on npm (140 versions; the newest 60 shown).

| Versions | Format | First published |
|---|---|---|
| 4.12.1 – 4.23.13 | ESM-only | Jun 7, 2024 |

## Frequently asked

**Is tsx ESM-only?**

tsx@4.23.13 is ESM-only. tsx has been ESM-only since its first stable release; there is no CommonJS version to pin.

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

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

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

From a CommonJS file, use a dynamic import inside an async function: const tsx = await import("tsx"). That works on every Node.js version the package supports (>=18.0.0). On Node.js 20.19+, 22.12+ and newer, require("tsx") works with the latest version: Node.js loads synchronous ES modules through require(). Verified on Node.js 20, 22, 24 and 26.

**Does tsx work in Bun?**

Importing tsx failed in Bun 1.4.0 on Sep 9, 2026: error: Cannot find module './cjs/index.cjs' from ''

**Does tsx ship TypeScript types?**

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

## Links

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