I understand that npm initially seeks a package.json file in your present directory. However, it appears that it can also detect one located in a higher-level directory. Does it systematically traverse parent directories until one is found? Additionally, when invoking a function like fetchModule(), does the lookup process similarly search for a configuration file? Finally, is this search strategy intrinsic to npm or is it dictated by CommonJS standards?
I have worked with several Node.js projects and noticed that npm indeed begins its search for package.json in the current working directory before moving up the folder hierarchy until it finds one or reaches the file system root. This behavior ensures that even if commands are run from a subdirectory, the nearest package context is preserved. The approach seems to be an npm-specific design enhancing usability rather than a pattern enforced by CommonJS; CommonJS module resolution revolves around files rather than configuration lookups like package.json.
i think npm starts in the current dir and goes upward until it finds a package.json. fetchmodule() works similarly, but that’s npm’s own approach, not stuff commonjs dictates.
In my view, npm indeed initiates its search from the current directory and methodically climbs upward until it discovers a package.json file or hits the root directory. This behavior ensures that working from nested directories still picks up the appropriate project context. It applies this same strategy for functions like fetchModule(), highlighting that it is npm’s own design for module setup rather than a mandate from CommonJS. This technique, observed in multiple projects, greatly aids in maintaining consistency in package management.