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Node.js Installation Guide

Install Node.js and npm for JavaScript development

10-15 minutes
Beginner
Cross-platform

Prerequisites

Before you begin:

  • • Administrator access to your system
  • • Internet connection for downloading Node.js
  • • At least 1GB of available disk space
  • • Windows 10+, macOS 10.15+, or Linux

Installation Methods

Recommended Method

Download the official installer from nodejs.org for the easiest setup.

✅ Easiest to install

✅ Includes npm

✅ Official support

Package Managers

Use your system's package manager for easier updates.

🔄 Easy updates

📦 System integration

⚡ Faster installation

Installation Steps

Windows Installation

Step 1: Download Node.js

  1. Visit the official Node.js website: nodejs.org
  2. Download the LTS (Long Term Support) version
  3. Choose the Windows Installer (.msi) for your system architecture (x64 recommended)

Step 2: Install Node.js

  1. Run the downloaded .msi installer as Administrator
  2. Follow the installation wizard
  3. Accept the default installation path
  4. Ensure "Add to PATH" is checked
  5. Complete the installation

Step 3: Verify Installation

node --version
npm --version

You should see version numbers for both Node.js and npm.

macOS Installation

Method 1: Official Installer

  1. Visit nodejs.org
  2. Download the macOS Installer (.pkg)
  3. Run the installer and follow the wizard
  4. Verify installation with terminal commands

Method 2: Using Homebrew (Recommended)

# Install Homebrew first (if not installed)
/bin/bash -c "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/HEAD/install.sh)"

# Install Node.js
brew install node

Linux Installation (Ubuntu/Debian)

Method 1: Using NodeSource Repository

# Update package list
sudo apt update

# Install curl
sudo apt install -y curl

# Add NodeSource repository
curl -fsSL https://deb.nodesource.com/setup_lts.x | sudo -E bash -

# Install Node.js
sudo apt install -y nodejs

Method 2: Using Snap

sudo snap install node --classic

Method 3: Using Node Version Manager (nvm)

# Install nvm
curl -o- https://raw.githubusercontent.com/nvm-sh/nvm/v0.39.0/install.sh | bash

# Restart terminal or run
source ~/.bashrc

# Install latest LTS version
nvm install --lts

# Use the installed version
nvm use --lts

Verification

Test Your Installation

node --version
npm --version

# Test Node.js with a simple script
node -e "console.log('Hello from Node.js!')"

If you see version numbers and "Hello from Node.js!", your installation is successful!

Common Issues & Solutions

'node' is not recognized (Windows)

If you get this error after installation:

  • Restart your command prompt or PowerShell
  • Check if Node.js was added to PATH during installation
  • Manually add Node.js to your system PATH if needed

Permission Errors (Linux/macOS)

If you get permission errors when installing global packages:

# Configure npm to use a different directory
mkdir ~/.npm-global
npm config set prefix '~/.npm-global'

# Add to PATH in your shell profile
export PATH=~/.npm-global/bin:$PATH

Next Steps

What to do next:

  • • Create your first Node.js application
  • • Learn about npm and package management
  • • Explore popular Node.js frameworks (Express, Next.js)
  • • Set up a development environment with VS Code
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