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

> url-loader@4.1.1 is a CommonJS package. CommonJS — require() works on every Node.js version we test.

A loader for webpack which transforms files into base64 URIs

Last verified Sep 9, 2026 against url-loader@4.1.1.

url-loader ships CommonJS only. require("url-loader") works on every Node.js version we test (18, 20, 22, 24 and 26) and in Bun. The package declares Node.js >= 10.13.0. import "url-loader" also works because Node.js and Bun can import CommonJS from ES modules, but only the default export is guaranteed; named imports depend on Node's static analysis of the module.

## What to do

1. require("url-loader") works on every Node.js version we test (18, 20, 22, 24 and 26) and in Bun. The package declares Node.js >= 10.13.0.
2. From ES modules use the default import: import urlLoader from "url-loader"; then destructure. Named imports only work when Node.js can statically detect the exports.
3. TypeScript: no types are available for url-loader; declare the module yourself if you need them.

## Facts

- Latest: 4.1.1 (Oct 9, 2020)
- Module format: CommonJS
- Last CommonJS version: 4.1.1
- TypeScript types: none
- Node engines: >= 10.13.0
- Weekly downloads: 4.1M
- License: MIT

## Runtime test results for url-loader@4.1.1

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

| Runtime | require("url-loader") | import "url-loader" |
|---|---|---|
| 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 url-loader

ES modules:

```js
import urlLoader from "url-loader";
```

CommonJS:

```js
const urlLoader = require("url-loader");
```

## Module format by version

Derived from the type, main and exports fields of every stable release on npm (31 versions; the newest 31 shown).

| Versions | Format | First published |
|---|---|---|
| 0.1.0 – 4.1.1 | CommonJS | May 13, 2012 |

## Frequently asked

**Is url-loader ESM-only?**

url-loader@4.1.1 is a CommonJS package. url-loader ships CommonJS only. require("url-loader") works on every Node.js version we test (18, 20, 22, 24 and 26) and in Bun. The package declares Node.js >= 10.13.0. import "url-loader" also works because Node.js and Bun can import CommonJS from ES modules, but only the default export is guaranteed; named imports depend on Node's static analysis of the module.

**Can I import url-loader with ES module syntax?**

Yes. import urlLoader from "url-loader" works in Node.js and Bun because they support importing CommonJS modules. Named imports work only when Node.js can statically detect the exports.

**Does url-loader work in Bun?**

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

**Does url-loader ship TypeScript types?**

No. url-loader ships no type declarations and there is no @types package for it.

## Links

- [url-loader on npm](https://www.npmjs.com/package/url-loader)
- [Source repository](https://github.com/webpack-contrib/url-loader)
- [HTML version](https://canirequire.com/package/url-loader/)
- [JSON version](https://canirequire.com/package/url-loader.json)

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