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

Unified plugin system for build tools

Last verified Sep 9, 2026 against unplugin@3.3.0. JSON

ESM-only ESM-only since 3.0.0 — last CommonJS version is 2.3.11

unplugin dropped its CommonJS build in 3.0.0 (January 2026). The last version you can require() on every Node.js version, including 18 and older, is 2.3.11, published Nov 22, 2025.

On Node.js 20.19+, 22.12+ and every newer release, require("unplugin") works anyway: Node can load synchronous ES modules through require(). Verified on Node 20, 22, 24, 26. Node.js 18 and older still fail with ERR_REQUIRE_ESM.

unplugin@3.3.0 declares engines "^20.19.0 || >=22.12.0", so Node.js 18 is outside its supported range regardless of module format.

Latest
3.3.0 (Jun 29, 2026)
Module format
ESM-only
Last CommonJS version
2.3.11
ESM-only since
3.0.0 (Jan 22, 2026)
TypeScript types
Bundled
Node engines
^20.19.0 || >=22.12.0
Weekly downloads
51.6M
License
MIT

Does unplugin@3.3.0 actually load? Runtime test results

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

Runtimerequire("unplugin")import "unplugin"
Node.js 18✗ failsERR_REQUIRE_ESM✗ failsERR_INVALID_ARG_TYPE
Node.js 20✓ works✓ works
Node.js 22✓ works✓ works
Node.js 24✓ works✓ works
Node.js 26✓ works✓ works
Bun 1.4✓ works✓ works

How to import unplugin

ES modules (import)

import unplugin from "unplugin";

CommonJS (require)

// Node.js 20.19+ / 22.12+ / newer (package has no top-level await):
const unplugin = require("unplugin");

// Any Node.js version:
const unplugin = await import("unplugin");

// Or pin the last CommonJS release:
// npm install unplugin@2.3.11

Module format by version

Derived from the type, main and exports fields of every stable release on npm (112 versions; the newest 60 shown).

VersionsFormatFirst published
3.0.0 – 3.3.0ESM-onlyJan 22, 2026
0.9.6 – 2.3.11Dual (CommonJS + ESM)Sep 21, 2022

Frequently asked

Is unplugin ESM-only?

unplugin@3.3.0 is ESM-only. unplugin dropped its CommonJS build in 3.0.0 (January 2026). The last version you can require() on every Node.js version, including 18 and older, is 2.3.11, published Nov 22, 2025.

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

2.3.11 is the last version of unplugin with a CommonJS build. Install it with "npm install unplugin@2.3.11". Every version from 3.0.0 on is ESM-only.

How do I use unplugin from a CommonJS file?

Use a dynamic import: const mod = await import("unplugin"). On Node.js 20.19+, 22.12+ and newer, a plain require("unplugin") also works for ESM packages that do not use top-level await. Alternatively pin unplugin@2.3.11.

Does unplugin work in Bun?

Yes. import "unplugin" loaded successfully in Bun 1.4 on Sep 9, 2026.

Does unplugin ship TypeScript types?

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

Links

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