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Underscore.js is a JavaScript utility library for common collection and functional-programming tasks. To start a Node.js project with the current release documented by the project, install the underscore package, use the documented monolithic import style that fits your module system, and check the target runtime against the project’s compatibility notes. The official documentation identifies version 1.13.8, dated February 19, 2026.

What Underscore.js provides

Underscore.js supplies helpers for working with collections and other everyday programming tasks without extending JavaScript’s built-in objects. Its API includes functions such as each, map, reduce, and filter, as well as function binding, templating, quick indexes, and deep equality. The project documentation describes the library as containing over 100 functions; that is the project’s published count, not an independent measurement.

The idea is to make common operations available without having to add those methods to native objects. The official project describes its purpose as providing “a whole mess of useful functional programming helpers without extending any built-in objects.” See the Underscore.js documentation and project repository for the full overview and source.

Install the package

Node.js projects

For a Node.js project, install the package from npm:

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npm install underscore

The package name is underscore; the npm listing identifies version 1.13.8. See the Underscore package on npm for its current listing.

Other documented package managers

The project documentation also lists these installation commands:

  • meteor add underscore
  • bower install underscore

Choose the command appropriate to the package tooling already used by your project.

Choose an import style

Use the module system your project already uses. For ordinary use, Underscore’s documentation recommends monolithic imports; modular imports are available but are mainly recommended when creating a customized build.

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ES modules

The documented ESM example imports the library and a named helper:

import _, { map } from 'underscore';

AMD, CommonJS, or browser use

The documentation also supports AMD and CommonJS. For a browser, it provides versioned UMD and ESM CDN files. If you load a CDN copy, choose a versioned URL when reproducibility matters; an automatically moving latest alias can change without a corresponding edit to your project.

For the exact current import examples and browser file paths, consult the official documentation. The best choice depends on your project’s module system, whether you need the whole API or a customized build, and whether the delivered version needs to stay pinned.

Check the current version and security note

The official documentation labels Underscore.js 1.13.8 as the current documented release and dates its change-log entry February 19, 2026. The entry says this release fixes CVE-2026-27601, an issue involving _.flatten and _.isEqual that could, under very specific circumstances, allow a denial-of-service attack in server applications. It says the issue was present in all previous versions. This describes the project’s published release note; it is not an independent security assessment. Check the project’s documentation and change log when selecting or updating a version.

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Verify compatibility for your runtime

The project says Underscore 1.x is backwards compatible with engines that fully support ES3, while taking advantage of newer features when available. Its documented test list includes Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Internet Explorer 9–11, Node.js 8 and later LTS, and Safari 8 and later. The documentation also says the 1.x line retains support code for IE 8.

These are compatibility claims from the project, not a guarantee that every application configuration is supported. Check your actual runtime, dependencies, and support requirements before adopting the library, especially if you target older browsers or a specific Node.js release.

License

The project states that Underscore may be freely distributed under the MIT license. See the official API modules page or the project repository for the license information.

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