Title: Installing Node.js and npm for local WordPress development
Author: Jonathan Bossenger
Published: 22 July 2023
Last modified: 23 January 2024

---

# Installing Node.js and npm for local WordPress development

Node.js is a [cross-platform](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cross-platform), [open-source](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open-source_software)
server environment that can run on most popular operating systems. Node.js lets 
developers use JavaScript to write command line tools and for [server-side scripting](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Server-side_scripting).
When you install Node.js on your operating system, it comes preinstalled with npm,
a command line tool that allows developers to share and use software packages as
dependencies in their own projects.

While not specifically a requirement for WordPress development, if you want to develop
blocks, contribute to Gutenberg, or use modern tools like wp-env or wp-now, you 
will need to have Node.js and npm installed on your computer.

In this tutorial, you will learn how to install Node.js and npm on macOS, Ubuntu,
and Windows.

## Learning outcomes

 1. Why you should install Node.js and npm.
 2. What is required to install Node.js and npm.
 3. How to install Node.js and npm.

## Comprehension questions

 1. Are you comfortable installing software on your computer?
 2. Do you have access to a terminal on your computer?

View video transcript

Hey there and welcome to Learn WordPress.
In this tutorial, you’re going to learn
how to install Node.js and npm on your computer for local WordPress development.
You will learn why you should install this software,what the requirements are,and
how to install Node.js and npm on your computer.Node.js is a JavaScript runtime 
environment that allows you to run JavaScript code outside of a web browser.While
this might not be specifically applicable to developing with WordPress, Node.js 
also comes bundled with npm.npm is both a command line tool and a package manager
for JavaScript.It allows you to install and manage JavaScript packages, also known
as dependencies, as wellas run build tools, execute code linters, and automate many
other processes during development.Many WordPress development projects rely on npm,
including Gutenberg, the Create Blocktool, the wp-env local WordPress environment,
and the new wp-now local WordPress environment.In order to run Node.js and npm, 
you’re going to need access to a terminal to run commands.Depending on your operating
system, you might already have an existing terminal installed.macOS and/or any Linux
users can use the terminal that ships with the operating system.If you are a Windows
user and you don’t already have a terminal solution,we recommend installing and 
using PowerShell as it’s more beginner-friendlyand more tailored to the Windows 
operating system. To install PowerShell, either open theMicrosoft Store and search
for PowerShell or browse to microsoft.com/powershell. Browse toSet up and Installation
and then follow the instructions to download and install it.Because npm is bundled
with Node.js you just need to install Node.js to get up and running.While you can
browse to the Node.js website, download the installer and install it that way,we
recommend using a tool called nvm which stands for Node Version Manager.You can 
find nvm at github.com/nvm-sh.This tool will enable you to installand use different
versions of Node.js,depending on the requirementsof the software you’re working 
with.If you’re using macOS or Linux,you can open your default terminal applicationand
install nvm by running the nvm install script,which you can copy from the Installingand
Updating section of the nvm README file.Once it is installed, you can use the nvm
install command to install the Node.js and npm versions you need.Here on a Windows
machine, you will need to install the Chocolaty Package Manager for Windows to install
nvm.First, open PowerShell with administrator privileges by right-clicking on the
PowerShell menu item and selecting “Run as administrator”.Then, browse to the Chocolaty
setup documentation and scroll down to the Install with PowerShellinstructions.Copy
the instructions and right-click in the PowerShell window to paste them.Once Chocolaty
is installed, use the following command to install nvm.Choco install -y nvmOnce 
nvm is installed, use the nvm install command to install the required Node.js andnpm
versions.To install Node.js and npm, use the nvm install command with the version
number you want toinstall.At the time of this tutorial, the current stable version
of Node.js is version 18.So you would say nvm install 18.You can also run nvm list
to see which versions of Node.js are installed.Because nvm allows you to run multiple
versions of Node.js, you need to tell nvm which versionyou want to use.You can do
this by running the nvm use command followed by the version number.You can also 
set the default version of Node.js and npmby using the nvm alias command.And then
to check which versions of Node.js and npmare enabled by running the following commands,
node -v and npm -v.And that wraps up this tutorial on installing Node.js and npm.
Happy coding!

## Introduction

Hey there, and welcome to Learn WordPress.

In this tutorial, you’re going to learn how to install Node.js and npm on your computer
for local WordPress development.

You will learn why you should install this software, what the requirements are, 
and how to install Node.js and npm on your computer.

## Why install node.js and npm?

Node.js is a JavaScript runtime environment that allows you to run JavaScript code
outside of a web browser. While this might not be specifically applicable to developing
with WordPress, Node.js also comes bundled with npm. npm is both a command line 
tool and package manager for JavaScript, and it allows you to install and manage
JavaScript packages, aka dependencies, as well as run build tools, execute code 
linters and automate many other processes during development. Many WordPress development
projects rely on npm including Gutenberg, the create-block tool, the wp-env local
WordPress environment and the new wp-now local WordPress environment.

Getting Node.js and npm installed on your computer is just like installing other
development tooling like SVN or Git. You don’t have to install them to develop with
WordPress, but ultimately it will make your life easier if you do.

## Requirements

In order to use Node.js and npm, you’re going to need access to a terminal to run
commands. Depending on your operating system, you might already have an existing
terminal installed.

MacOS and or any Linux users can use the terminal that ships with the operating 
system.

If you are a Windows user, and you don’t already have a terminal solution, we recommend
installing and using PowerShell, as it’s more beginner-friendly, and more tailored
to the Windows operating system.

To install PowerShell, either open the Microsoft Store, and search for PowerShell,
or browse to [https://microsoft.com/powershell](https://microsoft.com/powershell),
browse to Setup and Installation, and then follow the instructions to download and
install it.

## Installing Node.js.

Because npm is bundled with Node.js, you just need to install Node.js to get up 
and running.

While you can browse to the Node.js website and download the installer, we recommend
using a tool called nvm, which stands for Node Version Manager, which you can find
at [https://github.com/nvm-sh/nvm](https://github.com/nvm-sh/nvm).

This will enable you to install and use different versions of Node.js, depending
on the requirements of the software you’re working with.

## Installing NVM

### MacOS and Linux

If you are using MacOS or Linux, you can open your default terminal application,
and install nvm by running the nvm install script, which you can copy from the [nvm documentation](https://github.com/nvm-sh/nvm/blob/master/README.md#installing-and-updating).

    ```wp-block-code
    curl -o- https://raw.githubusercontent.com/nvm-sh/nvm/v0.39.1/install.sh | bash
    ```

Once it is installed, you can use the nvm install command to install the Node.js
and npm versions you need.

### Windows

If you are on a Windows machine, you will need to install the Chocolatey package
manager for Windows to install nvm.

First open Powershell with administrator permissions by right-clicking on the Powershell
menu item and selecting Run as administrator.

Browse to the Chocolatey setup documentation, and scroll down to the **Install with
PowerShell** Instructions.

Copy the instructions and right click in the Powershell window to paste them.

    ```wp-block-code
    Set-ExecutionPolicy Bypass -Scope Process -Force; [System.Net.ServicePointManager]::SecurityProtocol = [System.Net.ServicePointManager]::SecurityProtocol -bor 3072; iex ((New-Object System.Net.WebClient).DownloadString('https://community.chocolatey.org/install.ps1'))
    ```

Hit the Enter key to run the command.

Once Chocolatey is installed, use the following command to install nvm.

    ```wp-block-code
    choco install -y nvm
    ```

Once nvm is installed, use the nvm install command to install the required Nodejs
and npm versions.

While installing nvm via Chocolatey is recommended, as it allows you to more easily
install other web development software you might need, it’s also possible to use
nvm-windows, which does not require Chocolatey See the [Additional Resources](https://learn.wordpress.org/tutorial/installing-node-js-and-npm-for-local-wordpress-development/?output_format=md#additional-resources)
section for more information.

## NVM usage

To install Node.js and npm, use the nvm install command with the version number 
you want to install. At the time of this tutorial, the current stable version of
Node.js is version 18.

As newer stable versions of Node.js are released, you can safely replace the version
number with the newer version number.

    ```wp-block-code
    nvm install 18
    ```

You can also run `nvm list` to see which versions of Node.js are installed.

    ```wp-block-code
    nvm list
    ```

Because nvm allows you to run multiple versions of Node.js, you need to tell nvm
which version you want to use. You can do this by running the nvm use command, followed
by the version number.

    ```wp-block-code
    nvm use 18
    ```

This will set the version of node.js for the current terminal instance to version
20.

You can also set the default version of node.js and npm to use by running the nvm
alias command.

    ```wp-block-code
    nvm alias default 18
    ```

And then check which versions of node.js and npm are enabled by running the following
commands

    ```wp-block-code
    node -v
    npm -v
    ```

This is useful if you are working on multiple projects that require different versions
of Node.js and npm.

## Conclusion

And that wraps up this tutorial on installing Node.js and npm.

Happy coding!

## Additional Resources

 * [nvm-windows](https://github.com/coreybutler/nvm-windows): A node.js version 
   management utility for Windows, that doesn’t require installing Chocolatey.

 [Practice on a private demo site](https://playground.wordpress.net/?networking=yes)

|  Length |  5 minutes |  
|  Language |  English |  
|  Subtitles |  English |

##  Suggestions

 Found a typo, grammar error or outdated screenshot? [Contact us](https://learn.wordpress.org/report-content-feedback/).

##  License

 [CC BY-SA 4.0 ](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)