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canirequire › Dual (CommonJS + ESM) › webpack-dev-server

Is webpack-dev-server ESM-only? Can you require() it?

Serves a webpack app. Updates the browser on changes.

Last verified Sep 9, 2026 against webpack-dev-server@6.0.0. Markdown · JSON

Dual (CommonJS + ESM) Dual package — require() works on every Node.js version we test; import works too

webpack-dev-server publishes both a CommonJS entry and a native ESM entry (ESM added in 6.0.0). require("webpack-dev-server") works on every Node.js version we test (18, 20, 22, 24 and 26) and in Bun. The package declares Node.js >= 22.15.0. import "webpack-dev-server" works alongside it.

What to do

  1. Nothing to change. require("webpack-dev-server") works on every Node.js version we test (18, 20, 22, 24 and 26) and in Bun. The package declares Node.js >= 22.15.0. import * as webpackDevServer from "webpack-dev-server" works alongside it; use named imports for what the ESM entry exports.
  2. TypeScript: types are bundled; install nothing extra.
Latest
6.0.0 (Jul 3, 2026)
Module format
Dual (CommonJS + ESM)
Last CommonJS version
6.0.0
Native ESM since
6.0.0
TypeScript types
Bundled
Node engines
>= 22.15.0
Weekly downloads
11.8M
License
MIT

Does webpack-dev-server@6.0.0 actually load? Runtime test results

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

Runtimerequire("webpack-dev-server")import "webpack-dev-server"
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 webpack-dev-server

ES modules (import)

import * as webpackDevServer from "webpack-dev-server";

Namespace import shown because the ESM entry may have no default export; use named imports for what it exports.

CommonJS (require)

const webpackDevServer = require("webpack-dev-server");

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 (196 versions; the newest 60 shown).

VersionsFormatFirst published
6.0.0Dual (CommonJS + ESM)Jul 3, 2026
3.8.0 – 5.2.6CommonJSAug 9, 2019

Frequently asked

Is webpack-dev-server ESM-only?

webpack-dev-server@6.0.0 ships CommonJS and ESM builds. webpack-dev-server publishes both a CommonJS entry and a native ESM entry (ESM added in 6.0.0). require("webpack-dev-server") works on every Node.js version we test (18, 20, 22, 24 and 26) and in Bun. The package declares Node.js >= 22.15.0. import "webpack-dev-server" works alongside it.

Can I require webpack-dev-server?

Yes. webpack-dev-server ships a CommonJS entry alongside the native ESM entry. require("webpack-dev-server") works on every Node.js version we test (18, 20, 22, 24 and 26) and in Bun. The package declares Node.js >= 22.15.0.

Does webpack-dev-server work in Bun?

Yes. import "webpack-dev-server" loaded successfully in Bun 1.4.0 on Sep 9, 2026.

Does webpack-dev-server ship TypeScript types?

Yes. webpack-dev-server bundles its own type declarations; no @types package is needed.

Links

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