Where Do My NPM-Installed Modules Actually Live?

Uncovering the Hidden Nuggets: Where Do NPM-Installed Modules Reside?

When delving into the realm of Node.js, understanding package installation and storage becomes crucial. One such package manager is NPM, widely used for managing JavaScript modules. However, it's common to wonder where these modules are stashed after installation.

Global Libraries

For globally installed packages, you can use the command npm list -g to reveal their whereabouts. This command displays all globally installed libraries along with their locations. To obtain a truncated output showing just the path, use npm list -g | head -1.

Dive deeper into global package details with the command npm list --depth=0. This command unveils all globally installed packages without their dependencies.

When tinkering on Unix systems, globally installed packages typically reside in /usr/local/lib/node or /usr/local/lib/node_modules. By setting the environment variable NODE_PATH to this path, Node.js can effortlessly locate these modules.

Windows OS:

• Windows XP: %USERPROFILE%AppDatanpmnode_modules
• Windows 7, 8, and 10: %USERPROFILE%AppDataRoamingnpmnode_modules

Non-Global Libraries

Non-globally installed packages are tucked away in a subfolder named node_modules within the current working directory.

To view a list of non-globally installed packages for your current location, utilize the command npm list.

Global Installation with -g Option

If you seek to install a package globally, append the -g option to the npm install command. For instance, npm install -g pm2 will install pm2 globally, typically placing it in /usr/local/lib/node_modules. To verify the exact location, use npm root -g.

In contrast, npm install pm2 without the -g option will install pm2 locally, storing it in the local directory's node_modules subfolder.

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