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Is url-join ESM-only? Can you require() it?

Join urls and normalize as in path.join.

Last verified Sep 9, 2026 against url-join@5.0.0. Markdown · JSON

ESM-only ESM-only since 5.0.0 — last CommonJS version is 4.0.1

url-join dropped its CommonJS build in 5.0.0 (March 2022). The last version with a plain require()-able CommonJS entry is 4.0.1, published Jul 5, 2019.

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

What to do

  1. On Node.js 20.19+, 22.12+ and newer, require("url-join") 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 urlJoin = await import("url-join"). That works on every Node.js version the package supports (^12.20.0 || ^14.13.1 || >=16.0.0).
  3. If you need a synchronous require() or run Node.js 18: npm install url-join@4.0.1, the last CommonJS release (published Jul 5, 2019).
  4. TypeScript: types are bundled; install nothing extra.
Latest
5.0.0 (Mar 23, 2022)
Module format
ESM-only
Last CommonJS version
4.0.1
ESM-only since
5.0.0 (Mar 23, 2022)
TypeScript types
Bundled
Node engines
^12.20.0 || ^14.13.1 || >=16.0.0
Weekly downloads
18.6M
License
MIT

Does url-join@5.0.0 actually load? Runtime test results

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

Runtimerequire("url-join")import "url-join"
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 url-join

ES modules (import)

import * as urlJoin from "url-join";

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 urlJoin = require("url-join");

// Any Node.js version the package supports (^12.20.0 || ^14.13.1 || >=16.0.0), from an async function:
async function main() {
  const urlJoin = await import("url-join");
}

// Or pin the last CommonJS release:
// npm install url-join@4.0.1

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 (13 versions; the newest 13 shown).

VersionsFormatFirst published
5.0.0ESM-onlyMar 23, 2022
0.0.1 – 4.0.1CommonJSJan 29, 2013

Frequently asked

Is url-join ESM-only?

url-join@5.0.0 is ESM-only. url-join dropped its CommonJS build in 5.0.0 (March 2022). The last version with a plain require()-able CommonJS entry is 4.0.1, published Jul 5, 2019.

Which version of url-join still supports CommonJS / require()?

4.0.1 is the last version of url-join with a CommonJS build. Install it with "npm install url-join@4.0.1". Every version from 5.0.0 on is ESM-only.

How do I use url-join from a CommonJS file?

From a CommonJS file, use a dynamic import inside an async function: const urlJoin = await import("url-join"). That works on every Node.js version the package supports (^12.20.0 || ^14.13.1 || >=16.0.0). On Node.js 20.19+, 22.12+ and newer, require("url-join") works with the latest version: Node.js loads synchronous ES modules through require(). Verified on Node.js 20, 22, 24 and 26. Alternatively pin url-join@4.0.1.

Does url-join work in Bun?

Yes. import "url-join" loaded successfully in Bun 1.4.0 on Sep 9, 2026.

Does url-join ship TypeScript types?

Yes. url-join bundles its own type declarations; no @types package is needed.

Links

Other esm-only packages

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