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

Native-ESM powered web dev build tool

Last verified Sep 9, 2026 against vite@8.2.2. JSON

ESM-only ESM-only since 7.0.0 — last CommonJS version is 6.4.3

vite dropped its CommonJS build in 7.0.0 (June 2025). The last version you can require() on every Node.js version, including 18 and older, is 6.4.3, published Jun 1, 2026.

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

vite@8.2.2 declares engines "^20.19.0 || >=22.12.0", so Node.js 18 is outside its supported range regardless of module format.

Latest
8.2.2 (Aug 20, 2026)
Module format
ESM-only
Last CommonJS version
6.4.3
ESM-only since
7.0.0 (Jun 24, 2025)
TypeScript types
Bundled
Node engines
^20.19.0 || >=22.12.0
Weekly downloads
158.6M
License
MIT

Does vite@8.2.2 actually load? Runtime test results

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

Runtimerequire("vite")import "vite"
Node.js 18✗ failsERR_REQUIRE_ESM✗ failsSyntaxError
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 vite

ES modules (import)

import vite from "vite";

CommonJS (require)

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

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

// Or pin the last CommonJS release:
// npm install vite@6.4.3

Module format by version

Derived from the type, main and exports fields of every stable release on npm (429 versions; the newest 60 shown).

VersionsFormatFirst published
7.0.1 – 8.2.2ESM-onlyJul 3, 2025

Frequently asked

Is vite ESM-only?

vite@8.2.2 is ESM-only. vite dropped its CommonJS build in 7.0.0 (June 2025). The last version you can require() on every Node.js version, including 18 and older, is 6.4.3, published Jun 1, 2026.

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

6.4.3 is the last version of vite with a CommonJS build. Install it with "npm install vite@6.4.3". Every version from 7.0.0 on is ESM-only.

How do I use vite from a CommonJS file?

Use a dynamic import: const mod = await import("vite"). On Node.js 20.19+, 22.12+ and newer, a plain require("vite") also works for ESM packages that do not use top-level await. Alternatively pin vite@6.4.3.

Does vite work in Bun?

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

Does vite ship TypeScript types?

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

Links

Other esm-only packages

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