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

TypeScript-first schema declaration and validation library with static type inference

Last verified Sep 9, 2026 against zod@4.5.4. Markdown · JSON

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

zod publishes both a CommonJS entry and a native ESM entry (ESM added in 3.0.0). require("zod") works on every Node.js version we test (18, 20, 22, 24 and 26) and in Bun. import "zod" works alongside it.

What to do

  1. Nothing to change. require("zod") works on every Node.js version we test (18, 20, 22, 24 and 26) and in Bun. import * as zod from "zod" works alongside it; use named imports for what the ESM entry exports.
  2. TypeScript: types are bundled; install nothing extra.
Latest
4.5.4 (Aug 29, 2026)
Module format
Dual (CommonJS + ESM)
Last CommonJS version
4.5.4
Native ESM since
3.0.0
TypeScript types
Bundled
Node engines
not declared
Weekly downloads
246.7M
License
MIT

Does zod@4.5.4 actually load? Runtime test results

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

Runtimerequire("zod")import "zod"
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 zod

ES modules (import)

import * as zod from "zod";

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

CommonJS (require)

const zod = require("zod");

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 (295 versions; the newest 60 shown).

VersionsFormatFirst published
3.25.67 – 4.5.4Dual (CommonJS + ESM)Jun 16, 2025

Frequently asked

Is zod ESM-only?

zod@4.5.4 ships CommonJS and ESM builds. zod publishes both a CommonJS entry and a native ESM entry (ESM added in 3.0.0). require("zod") works on every Node.js version we test (18, 20, 22, 24 and 26) and in Bun. import "zod" works alongside it.

Can I require zod?

Yes. zod ships a CommonJS entry alongside the native ESM entry. require("zod") works on every Node.js version we test (18, 20, 22, 24 and 26) and in Bun.

Does zod work in Bun?

Yes. import "zod" loaded successfully in Bun 1.4.0 on Sep 9, 2026.

Does zod ship TypeScript types?

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

Links

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