npm

Default package manager for Node.js and the JavaScript ecosystem, enabling developers to discover, install, and publish packages. Includes a command-line client and a public registry that has grown into the largest software registry in the world since its creation in 2009.

Acquired by GitHub in 2020 and relied on by over 17 million developers worldwide. The npm Registry hosts more than two million packages and serves as the central hub for JavaScript code sharing. Unlike alternatives such as Yarn or pnpm, npm ships with Node.js by default and requires no separate installation, making it the most widely adopted package manager for frontend and backend JavaScript projects.

Key capabilities:

• CLI for installing, publishing, updating, and auditing dependencies
• Public npm Registry with versioning, scoped packages, and package metadata
• package.json and lockfile support for deterministic installs and reproducible builds
• Workspaces for managing multiple packages in a single repository
• Run scripts via npm run, integrate with CI workflows and deployment pipelines
• Support for private packages and organization features for teams

Teams use npm to manage dependencies for web applications, Node.js services, CLI tools, and shared libraries. The CLI fits into build pipelines, Docker images, and monorepo setups, while the registry powers the broader JavaScript ecosystem that frameworks like React, Vue, and Express rely on.