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

RFC9562 UUIDs

Last verified Sep 9, 2026 against uuid@14.0.2. Markdown · 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 with a plain require()-able CommonJS entry is 11.1.1, published Apr 29, 2026.

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

What to do

  1. On Node.js 20.19+, 22.12+ and newer, require("uuid") 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 uuid = await import("uuid"). That works on every Node.js version the package supports.
  3. If you need a synchronous require() or run Node.js 18: npm install uuid@11.1.1, the last CommonJS release (published Apr 29, 2026).
  4. TypeScript: types are bundled; install nothing extra.
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 1.4.0✓ works✓ works

How to import uuid

ES modules (import)

import * as uuid from "uuid";

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 uuid = require("uuid");

// Any Node.js version the package supports, from an async function:
async function main() {
  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, corrected where a runtime test of that version contradicted them (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 with a plain require()-able CommonJS entry 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?

From a CommonJS file, use a dynamic import inside an async function: const uuid = await import("uuid"). That works on every Node.js version the package supports. On Node.js 20.19+, 22.12+ and newer, require("uuid") works with the latest version: Node.js loads synchronous ES modules through require(). Verified on Node.js 20, 22, 24 and 26. Alternatively pin uuid@11.1.1.

Does uuid work in Bun?

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

Does uuid ship TypeScript types?

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

Links

Other esm-only packages

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