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

> vue-loader@17.4.2 declares a CommonJS entry, but require() fails at runtime. CommonJS on paper — require() failed in our runtime test.

> webpack loader for Vue Single-File Components

Last verified Sep 9, 2026 against vue-loader@17.4.2.

vue-loader declares a CommonJS entry only, but require("vue-loader") failed on every Node.js version in our probe: @vitejs/plugin-vue requires vue (>=3.2.13) or @vue/compiler-sfc to be present in the dependency tree. import "vue-loader" resolves to the same file, so it fails the same way. That usually means a missing peer dependency, a browser-only global, or a package that is not meant to be loaded directly; see the runtime table below.

## What to do

1. require("vue-loader") failed in our probe on every Node.js version (@vitejs/plugin-vue requires vue (>=3.2.13) or @vue/compiler-sfc to be present in the dependency tree); check the package README for peer dependencies or setup before relying on it.
2. From ES modules use the default import: import vueLoader from "vue-loader"; then destructure. Named imports only work when Node.js can statically detect the exports.
3. TypeScript: types are bundled; install nothing extra.

## Facts

- Latest: 17.4.2 (Dec 30, 2023)
- Module format: CommonJS
- Last CommonJS version: 17.4.2
- TypeScript types: bundled
- Node engines: not declared
- Weekly downloads: 1.9M
- License: MIT

## Runtime test results for vue-loader@17.4.2

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

| Runtime | require("vue-loader") | import "vue-loader" |
|---|---|---|
| Node.js 18 | fails (Error) | fails (Error) |
| Node.js 20 | fails (Error) | fails (Error) |
| Node.js 22 | fails (Error) | fails (Error) |
| Node.js 24 | fails (Error) | fails (Error) |
| Node.js 26 | fails (Error) | fails (Error) |
| Bun 1.4.0 | fails (Error) | fails (Error) |

## How to import vue-loader

ES modules:

```js
import vueLoader from "vue-loader";
```

CommonJS:

```js
// require("vue-loader") failed in our probe on every Node.js version we test (@vitejs/plugin-vue requires vue (>=3.2.13) or @vue/compiler-sfc to be present in the dependency tree); see the runtime table.
const vueLoader = require("vue-loader");
```

## Module format by version

Derived from the type, main and exports fields of every stable release on npm (271 versions; the newest 60 shown).

| Versions | Format | First published |
|---|---|---|
| 15.5.0 – 17.4.2 | CommonJS | Jan 4, 2019 |

## Frequently asked

**Is vue-loader ESM-only?**

vue-loader@17.4.2 declares a CommonJS entry, but require() fails at runtime. vue-loader declares a CommonJS entry only, but require("vue-loader") failed on every Node.js version in our probe: @vitejs/plugin-vue requires vue (>=3.2.13) or @vue/compiler-sfc to be present in the dependency tree. import "vue-loader" resolves to the same file, so it fails the same way. That usually means a missing peer dependency, a browser-only global, or a package that is not meant to be loaded directly; see the runtime table below.

**Can I require vue-loader?**

Not in practice. vue-loader declares a CommonJS entry, but require("vue-loader") failed on every Node.js version in our probe: @vitejs/plugin-vue requires vue (>=3.2.13) or @vue/compiler-sfc to be present in the dependency tree. Check the package README for peer dependencies or setup before relying on it.

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

Yes. import vueLoader from "vue-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 vue-loader work in Bun?**

Importing vue-loader failed in Bun 1.4.0 on Sep 9, 2026: error: @vitejs/plugin-vue requires vue (>=3.2.13) or @vue/compiler-sfc to be present in the dependency tree.

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

Yes. vue-loader bundles its own type declarations; no @types package is needed.

## Links

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

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