Node.js npm Tools: A Comprehensive Guide from Installation to Package Management

This article introduces the core knowledge of Node.js and npm. Node.js is a JavaScript runtime environment based on Chrome's V8 engine, and npm is its default package management tool for downloading, installing, and managing third-party code packages. **Installation**: Node.js can be installed on Windows, Mac, and Linux systems via the official website or package managers (npm is installed alongside Node.js). After installation, verify with `node -v` and `npm -v`. **Core npm Functions**: - Initialize a project with `npm init` to generate `package.json` (project configuration file). - Install dependencies: local (default, project-only) or global (`-g`, system-wide); categorized as production (`--save`) or development (`--save-dev`) dependencies. - Manage dependencies: view, update, uninstall (`npm uninstall`), etc. **Common Commands**: `npm install` (Install), `npm list` (View), `npm update` (Update), etc. For slow domestic access, accelerate with Taobao mirror (`npm config set registry`) or cnpm. **Notes**: Avoid committing `node_modules` to Git, use version numbers (`^` or `~`) reasonably, and prioritize local dependency installation. npm is a core tool for Node.js development; mastering its usage enhances efficiency.