npm / yarn / pnpm Commands Reference
Quick reference for npm, yarn, and pnpm package manager commands.
| Command (npm) | Description | |
|---|---|---|
npm init | Initialize a new project with a package.json file | |
npm init -y | Initialize with defaults (skip prompts) | |
npm install | Install all dependencies from package.json | |
npm ci | Clean install from lockfile (CI environments) | |
npm ls | List installed packages | |
npm outdated | Check for outdated packages | |
npm install <pkg> | Install and add to dependencies | |
npm install -D <pkg> | Install and add to devDependencies | |
npm install -g <pkg> | Install package globally | |
npm uninstall <pkg> | Remove a package | |
npm update <pkg> | Update a specific package | |
npm update | Update all packages to latest allowed versions | |
npm audit | Run a security audit | |
npm audit fix | Automatically fix vulnerabilities | |
npm dedupe | Reduce duplication in node_modules | |
npm cache clean --force | Clear the package cache | |
npm run <script> | Run a script defined in package.json | |
npm start | Run the 'start' script | |
npm test | Run the 'test' script | |
npm run build | Run the 'build' script | |
npx <cmd> | Execute a package binary without installing | |
npm login | Log in to npm registry | |
npm publish | Publish package to the registry | |
npm version <type> | Bump version (patch/minor/major) | |
npm pack | Create a tarball of the package | |
npm deprecate | Deprecate a published version |
About this tool
npm, yarn, and pnpm are the most widely used package managers for JavaScript, each with its own command syntax and quirks. Developers working across different projects often switch between them, and remembering the exact command for a particular task can be frustrating without a clear reference.
This reference collects the most common commands for installing, updating, removing, and listing packages across all three managers so you can find the right invocation without consulting the official documentation every time. Use it to check how to install a dev dependency, run a custom script, list global packages, or clear your cache before troubleshooting a build issue.
Each command is presented side by side across npm, yarn, and pnpm so you can quickly adapt your workflow when switching tools. Whether you are starting a new project, managing workspace dependencies, or debugging a missing package, this page helps you get the syntax right on the first try.
Frequently Asked Questions
Code Implementation
# Run npm/shell commands from Python
import subprocess
import json
import os
def npm_install(package, dev=False):
"""Install an npm package"""
cmd = ['npm', 'install']
if dev:
cmd.append('--save-dev')
cmd.append(package)
result = subprocess.run(cmd, capture_output=True, text=True)
return result.returncode == 0
def get_package_json():
"""Read package.json"""
with open('package.json') as f:
return json.load(f)
def npm_run(script):
"""Run an npm script"""
result = subprocess.run(
['npm', 'run', script],
capture_output=True, text=True
)
print(result.stdout)
if result.returncode != 0:
print(result.stderr)
return result.returncode == 0
# Example usage
npm_install('lodash')
npm_install('typescript', dev=True)
npm_run('build')
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