Hey everyone! I’m new to Node.js and I’ve been using npm to install some packages for my project. But now I’m a bit confused. I can’t seem to find where these packages are actually stored on my computer. I know they’re somewhere, but I’m not sure where to look. Is there a specific folder where npm puts all the installed modules? Or does it vary depending on the setup? Any help would be great! I just want to be able to check out the files and maybe understand how they work better. Thanks in advance for any tips!
As someone who’s been working with Node.js for a while, I can share a tip that’s saved me countless hours. While the ‘node_modules’ folder is where npm installs packages by default, I’ve found it incredibly useful to use the ‘npm config’ command to customize where packages are stored.
For instance, you can run ‘npm config set prefix /path/to/custom/directory’ to change the global installation directory. This is particularly handy if you’re working on multiple projects or want to keep your packages organized in a specific way.
Another thing to keep in mind is that some IDEs and text editors have built-in tools to help you navigate and explore installed packages. VSCode, for example, has extensions that can make browsing ‘node_modules’ a breeze.
Lastly, don’t forget about the ‘package-lock.json’ file. It’s a goldmine of information about your project’s dependencies and can be really helpful when you’re trying to understand what’s installed and where.
hey Luke! npm usually stashes packages in a ‘node_modules’ folder in ur project directory. if u cant find it, try running ‘npm root’ in the terminal - itll show u the path. for global packages, check ‘npm root -g’. hope this helps, mate!
When you install packages with npm, they’re typically placed in a ‘node_modules’ directory within your project folder. If you’re working on a project, navigate to its root directory and you should find the ‘node_modules’ folder there.
For global packages, the location can vary depending on your system and Node.js installation. On Unix-based systems, they’re often in ‘/usr/local/lib/node_modules’ or ‘/usr/lib/node_modules’. On Windows, check ‘C:\Users\YourUsername\AppData\Roaming\npm\node_modules’.
To quickly locate packages, use ‘npm list’ in your project directory or ‘npm list -g’ for global packages. This command shows installed packages and their locations.