Installing Node.js and npm (Node Package Manager)

Node.js is a JavaScript runtime environment that allows you to run JavaScript code outside of a web browser. It is an open-source and cross-platform platform that enables developers to build scalable and high-performance applications. Along with Node.js, npm (Node Package Manager) is a package manager that helps in installing, sharing, and managing various packages and modules for Node.js projects.

In this article, we will walk you through the step-by-step process of installing Node.js and npm on different operating systems.

Prerequisites

Before proceeding with the installation, ensure that you have the following prerequisites:

1. A compatible operating system (Windows, macOS, or Linux).
2. A reliable internet connection.
3. Basic knowledge of using the terminal or command prompt.

Installing Node.js and npm on Windows

To install Node.js and npm on Windows, follow these steps:

1. Visit the official Node.js website at https://nodejs.org using your web browser.
2. On the homepage, you will find the "Downloads" button. Click on it to navigate to the downloads page.
3. From the downloads page, click on the "LTS" (Long-Term Support) version to download the recommended version of Node.js for most users. Alternatively, you can choose the "Current" version for the latest features (though stability might be compromised).
4. Once the setup file is downloaded, double-click on it to run the installer.
5. Follow the installation wizard instructions, selecting the desired options and agreeing to the terms and conditions.
6. After installation, open the command prompt by pressing Win + R and typing "cmd".
7. In the command prompt, type node -v to verify the Node.js installation. You should see the installed version number.
8. Similarly, type npm -v to verify the npm installation. You should see the installed version number.

Installing Node.js and npm on macOS

To install Node.js and npm on macOS, follow these steps:

1. Open the terminal by navigating to Applications > Utilities > Terminal.
2. On the terminal, execute the following command to install Homebrew (a popular package manager for macOS):

/bin/bash -c "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/HEAD/install.sh)"

3. After the installation, run the command brew update to update Homebrew to the latest version.
4. Next, execute the command brew install node to install Node.js and npm.
5. Once the installation is complete, type node -v in the terminal to check the installed version of Node.js.
6. Similarly, type npm -v to verify the successful installation of npm.

Installing Node.js and npm on Linux

The process of installing Node.js and npm on Linux varies depending on the distribution you are using. In this example, we will cover the installation on Ubuntu, one of the popular Linux distributions.

1. Open your terminal by pressing Ctrl + Alt + T.
2. Execute the following commands one by one:

sudo apt update
sudo apt install nodejs npm

3. After executing the commands, Node.js and npm should be installed.
4. To verify the installation, type node -v in the terminal. It should show the installed version of Node.js.
5. Similarly, type npm -v to check the version of npm.

Conclusion

Congratulations! You have successfully installed Node.js and npm on your operating system. With Node.js and npm, you can now start developing and running JavaScript applications outside the browser environment. Remember to regularly update Node.js and npm to access the latest features and security patches.

Next, explore the vast collection of packages available on the npm registry to enhance your development productivity and efficiency!