canirequire

canirequire › ESM-only › yargs-parser

Is yargs-parser ESM-only? Can you require() it?

the mighty option parser used by yargs

Last verified Sep 9, 2026 against yargs-parser@22.0.0. Markdown · JSON

ESM-only ESM-only since 22.0.0 — last CommonJS version is 21.1.1

yargs-parser dropped its CommonJS build in 22.0.0 (May 2025). The last version with a plain require()-able CommonJS entry is 21.1.1, published Aug 4, 2022; it declares support for Node.js >=12.

On Node.js 20.19+, 22.12+ and newer, require("yargs-parser") works with the latest version: Node.js loads synchronous ES modules through require(). Verified on Node.js 20, 22, 24 and 26. Node.js 18 has no require(esm), and yargs-parser@22.0.0 declares Node.js ^20.19.0 || ^22.12.0 || >=23, so 18 is outside its supported range anyway.

yargs-parser@22.0.0 declares engines "^20.19.0 || ^22.12.0 || >=23", so Node.js 18 is outside its supported range regardless of module format.

What to do

  1. On Node.js 20.19+, 22.12+ and newer, require("yargs-parser") 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 yargsParser = await import("yargs-parser"). That works on every Node.js version the package supports (^20.19.0 || ^22.12.0 || >=23).
  3. If you need a synchronous require() or run Node.js 18: npm install yargs-parser@21.1.1, the last CommonJS release (published Aug 4, 2022); it declares Node.js >=12.
  4. yargs-parser@22.0.0 declares engines "^20.19.0 || ^22.12.0 || >=23", so Node.js 18 is unsupported regardless: upgrade Node.js or pin an older release.
  5. TypeScript: npm install -D @types/yargs-parser
Latest
22.0.0 (May 26, 2025)
Module format
ESM-only
Last CommonJS version
21.1.1
ESM-only since
22.0.0 (May 26, 2025)
TypeScript types
@types/yargs-parser
Node engines
^20.19.0 || ^22.12.0 || >=23
Weekly downloads
178.8M
License
ISC

Does yargs-parser@22.0.0 actually load? Runtime test results

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

Runtimerequire("yargs-parser")import "yargs-parser"
Node.js 18✗ failsERR_REQUIRE_ESM✗ failsError
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 yargs-parser

ES modules (import)

import * as yargsParser from "yargs-parser";

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 yargsParser = require("yargs-parser");

// Any Node.js version the package supports (^20.19.0 || ^22.12.0 || >=23), from an async function:
async function main() {
  const yargsParser = await import("yargs-parser");
}

// Or pin the last CommonJS release (declares Node.js >=12):
// npm install yargs-parser@21.1.1

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 (71 versions; the newest 60 shown).

VersionsFormatFirst published
22.0.0ESM-onlyMay 26, 2025
19.0.0 – 21.1.1Dual (CommonJS + ESM)Aug 9, 2020
4.0.0 – 18.1.3CommonJSSep 26, 2016

Frequently asked

Is yargs-parser ESM-only?

yargs-parser@22.0.0 is ESM-only. yargs-parser dropped its CommonJS build in 22.0.0 (May 2025). The last version with a plain require()-able CommonJS entry is 21.1.1, published Aug 4, 2022; it declares support for Node.js >=12.

Which version of yargs-parser still supports CommonJS / require()?

21.1.1 is the last version of yargs-parser with a CommonJS build; it declares Node.js >=12. Install it with "npm install yargs-parser@21.1.1". Every version from 22.0.0 on is ESM-only.

How do I use yargs-parser from a CommonJS file?

From a CommonJS file, use a dynamic import inside an async function: const yargsParser = await import("yargs-parser"). That works on every Node.js version the package supports (^20.19.0 || ^22.12.0 || >=23). On Node.js 20.19+, 22.12+ and newer, require("yargs-parser") works with the latest version: Node.js loads synchronous ES modules through require(). Verified on Node.js 20, 22, 24 and 26. Alternatively pin yargs-parser@21.1.1 (declares Node.js >=12).

Does yargs-parser work in Bun?

Yes. import "yargs-parser" loaded successfully in Bun 1.4.0 on Sep 9, 2026.

Does yargs-parser ship TypeScript types?

Not bundled. Install the community types with "npm install -D @types/yargs-parser".

Links

Other esm-only packages

Similar popularity