How to install Node.js with npm on Ubuntu 18.04

Install Node.js with npm on Ubuntu

In this tutorial, we are going to learn how to install Node.js with npm on Ubuntu. Node.js is the opensource JavaScript Run-time environment for server-side execution of JavaScript code. Node.js built on Chrome’s V8 JavaScript engine so it can be used to build different types of server-side application.

npm is the worlds largest software registry for Node.js packages with thousands of packages available. Where npm stands for Node Package Manager which is the default package manager for Node.js.

In this tutorial we will install Node.js in following three ways:

1. Install Node.js and npm using Ubuntu repository
2. Install Node.js and npm using nvm
3. Install Node.js from NodeSource repository.

Prerequisites

Before you start to install Node.js and npm on Ubuntu 18.04. You must use the credentials of user with sudo privileges.

Install Node.js and npm on Ubuntu

You can install Node.js and npm on Ubuntu in following three ways. For installation you can use any of the following way.

1. Install Node.js and npm using Ubuntu repository

First, Update Ubuntu apt package manager index by running following command.

sudo apt update

Install Node.js from Ubuntu global repository by typing

sudo apt install node

Confirm the installation of Node.js by typing

node --version

Install npm by running following command

sudo apt install npm

Confirm the installation of npm by typing

npm --version

2. Install Node.js and npm using nvm

NVM stands for Node Version Manager which is used to manage multiple Node.js versions. If you want to install or uninstall different versions of Node.js then NVM is there for you.

First, we will install NVM (Node Package Manager) on your system. So download NVM installation script running the following command.

curl -o- https://raw.githubusercontent.com/creationix/nvm/v0.33.11/install.sh | bash

Check nvm version and confirm installation typing

nvm --version

Now install Node.js by using the following command.

nvm install node

Verify Node.js installation by typing

node --version

The output should be:

v10.14.0

You can install multiple versions of Node.js. To do so type following:

nvm install 8.14

nvm install --lts

nvm install 11.3

To list all the versions installed run following command.

nvm ls

You can change the current default version of Node.js by using the following command.

nvm use 8.14

To uninstall a Node.js version type following command

nvm uninstall 11.14

3. Install Node.js from NodeSource Repository

NodeSource company provides enterprise grade node support also maintains repository containing latest version of Node.js.

To enable NodeSource repository on your system run following command.

curl -sL https://deb.nodesource.com/setup_10.x | sudo bash -

NOTE : The latest LTS version of Node.js is 10.x if you want to install 8.x version then just replace setup_10.x with setup_8.x

Now install Node.js and npm package typing.

sudo apt install nodejs

Verify installtion of Node.js and npm running following command

node --version

npm --version

Install Development Tools

Now install some packages needed for development by running following command

sudo apt install gcc g++ make

Uninstall Node.js and npm

Uninstall Node.js use following command

sudo apt remove nodejs npm

sudo apt autoremove

To uninstall node.js version using nvm type following command

nvm uninstall 10.14

Conclusion

You have successfully learned how to install Node.js with npm on Ubuntu 18.04. If you have any queries dont forget to comment below.