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

Node.js's util module for all engines

Last verified Sep 9, 2026 against util@0.12.5. Markdown · JSON

CommonJS CommonJS — require() works on every Node.js version we test

util ships CommonJS only. require("util") works on every Node.js version we test (18, 20, 22, 24 and 26) and in Bun. import "util" 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("util") works on every Node.js version we test (18, 20, 22, 24 and 26) and in Bun.
  2. From ES modules use the default import: import util from "util"; then destructure. Named imports only work when Node.js can statically detect the exports.
  3. TypeScript: no types are available for util; declare the module yourself if you need them.
Latest
0.12.5 (Oct 16, 2022)
Module format
CommonJS
Last CommonJS version
0.12.5
TypeScript types
None
Node engines
not declared
Weekly downloads
37.6M
License
MIT

Does util@0.12.5 actually load? Runtime test results

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

Runtimerequire("util")import "util"
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 util

ES modules (import)

import util from "util";

Named imports from a CommonJS package only work when Node.js can statically detect them. If a named import fails, use the default import and destructure.

CommonJS (require)

const util = require("util");

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 (14 versions; the newest 14 shown).

VersionsFormatFirst published
0.4.9 – 0.12.5CommonJSSep 7, 2011

Frequently asked

Is util ESM-only?

util@0.12.5 is a CommonJS package. util ships CommonJS only. require("util") works on every Node.js version we test (18, 20, 22, 24 and 26) and in Bun. import "util" 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 util with ES module syntax?

Yes. import util from "util" 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 util work in Bun?

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

Does util ship TypeScript types?

No. util ships no type declarations and there is no @types package for it.

Links

Other commonjs packages

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