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

RFC9562 UUIDs

Last verified Sep 9, 2026 against uuid@14.0.2. JSON

ESM-only ESM-only since 12.0.0 — last CommonJS version is 11.1.1

uuid dropped its CommonJS build in 12.0.0 (September 2025). The last version you can require() on every Node.js version, including 18 and older, is 11.1.1, published Apr 29, 2026.

On Node.js 20.19+, 22.12+ and every newer release, require("uuid") 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.

Latest
14.0.2 (Aug 18, 2026)
Module format
ESM-only
Last CommonJS version
11.1.1
ESM-only since
12.0.0 (Sep 5, 2025)
TypeScript types
Bundled
Node engines
not declared
Weekly downloads
254.8M
License
MIT

Does uuid@14.0.2 actually load? Runtime test results

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

Runtimerequire("uuid")import "uuid"
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✓ works✓ works

How to import uuid

ES modules (import)

import uuid from "uuid";

CommonJS (require)

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

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

// Or pin the last CommonJS release:
// npm install uuid@11.1.1

Module format by version

Derived from the type, main and exports fields of every stable release on npm (47 versions; the newest 47 shown).

VersionsFormatFirst published
12.0.0 – 14.0.2ESM-onlySep 5, 2025
8.0.0 – 11.1.1Dual (CommonJS + ESM)Apr 29, 2020
0.0.1 – 7.0.3CommonJSMar 31, 2011

Frequently asked

Is uuid ESM-only?

uuid@14.0.2 is ESM-only. uuid dropped its CommonJS build in 12.0.0 (September 2025). The last version you can require() on every Node.js version, including 18 and older, is 11.1.1, published Apr 29, 2026.

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

11.1.1 is the last version of uuid with a CommonJS build. Install it with "npm install uuid@11.1.1". Every version from 12.0.0 on is ESM-only.

How do I use uuid from a CommonJS file?

Use a dynamic import: const mod = await import("uuid"). On Node.js 20.19+, 22.12+ and newer, a plain require("uuid") also works for ESM packages that do not use top-level await. Alternatively pin uuid@11.1.1.

Does uuid work in Bun?

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

Does uuid ship TypeScript types?

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

Links

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