Node.js, npm & npx

Node.js runs the JavaScript tooling. npm installs packages. npx runs a package's command without installing it.

Why we use it

Expo, the dev server and every library run on Node. You don't need npm or npx to be installed separately — both come with Node.

	npm — Node Package Manager	npx — Node Package eXecute
Job	Installs packages into `node_modules`	Runs a package’s command
Example	`npm install`	`npx create-expo-app@latest`
Remember	“get the tool”	“use the tool”

node -v
npm -v
npx -v

Warning

Install the LTS version. Never commit node_modules/; it’s rebuilt by running npm install.