# Is whatwg-url ESM-only? Can you require() it?

> whatwg-url@17.1.0 is a CommonJS package. CommonJS — require() works on Node.js 20, 22, 24 and 26, fails on 18.

An implementation of the WHATWG URL Standard's URL API and parsing machinery

Last verified Sep 9, 2026 against whatwg-url@17.1.0.

whatwg-url ships CommonJS only. require("whatwg-url") works on Node.js 20, 22, 24 and 26 but fails on Node.js 18 (TypeError). The package declares Node.js ^22.14.0 || >=24.0.0. import "whatwg-url" also works because Node.js and Bun can import CommonJS from ES modules, but only the default export is guaranteed; named imports depend on Node's static analysis of the module.

## What to do

1. require("whatwg-url") works on Node.js 20, 22, 24 and 26 but fails on Node.js 18 (TypeError). The package declares Node.js ^22.14.0 || >=24.0.0.
2. From ES modules use the default import: import whatwgUrl from "whatwg-url"; then destructure. Named imports only work when Node.js can statically detect the exports.
3. TypeScript: npm install -D @types/whatwg-url

## Facts

- Latest: 17.1.0 (Jul 7, 2026)
- Module format: CommonJS
- Last CommonJS version: 17.1.0
- TypeScript types: @types/whatwg-url
- Node engines: ^22.14.0 || >=24.0.0
- Weekly downloads: 204.4M
- License: MIT

## Runtime test results for whatwg-url@17.1.0

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

| Runtime | require("whatwg-url") | import "whatwg-url" |
|---|---|---|
| Node.js 18 | fails (TypeError) | fails (TypeError) |
| 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 whatwg-url

ES modules:

```js
import whatwgUrl from "whatwg-url";
```

CommonJS:

```js
const whatwgUrl = require("whatwg-url");
```

## Module format by version

Derived from the type, main and exports fields of every stable release on npm (72 versions; the newest 60 shown).

| Versions | Format | First published |
|---|---|---|
| 0.6.2 – 17.1.0 | CommonJS | Aug 13, 2015 |

## Frequently asked

**Is whatwg-url ESM-only?**

whatwg-url@17.1.0 is a CommonJS package. whatwg-url ships CommonJS only. require("whatwg-url") works on Node.js 20, 22, 24 and 26 but fails on Node.js 18 (TypeError). The package declares Node.js ^22.14.0 || >=24.0.0. import "whatwg-url" also works because Node.js and Bun can import CommonJS from ES modules, but only the default export is guaranteed; named imports depend on Node's static analysis of the module.

**Can I import whatwg-url with ES module syntax?**

Yes. import whatwgUrl from "whatwg-url" 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 whatwg-url work in Bun?**

Yes. import "whatwg-url" loaded successfully in Bun 1.4.0 on Sep 9, 2026.

**Does whatwg-url ship TypeScript types?**

Not bundled. Install the community types with "npm install -D @types/whatwg-url".

## Links

- [whatwg-url on npm](https://www.npmjs.com/package/whatwg-url)
- [Source repository](https://github.com/jsdom/whatwg-url)
- [HTML version](https://canirequire.com/package/whatwg-url/)
- [JSON version](https://canirequire.com/package/whatwg-url.json)

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