npm cheat sheet: install, run, update, publish

updated 2026-10-20

The npm commands you use every week, grouped by task.

Project setup

bash

npm init -y >/dev/null
npm pkg set description="demo" scripts.hello="echo hello from npm run"
npm pkg get name description
npm run hello --silent

Output

{
  "name": "work",
  "description": "demo"
}
hello from npm run

Command	What it does
npm install	install everything in package.json
npm install pkg	add pkg to dependencies
npm install -D pkg	add pkg to devDependencies
npm install pkg@1.2.3	install an exact version
npm install -E pkg	save the exact version instead of a ^ range
npm uninstall pkg	remove pkg and its entry in package.json
npm ci	clean install from package-lock.json (CI)
npm install -g pkg	install a command-line tool globally

Command	What it does
npm ls pkg	where pkg is in the dependency tree
npm explain pkg	why pkg is installed
npm outdated	installed vs wanted vs latest
npm view pkg versions	every published version
npm view pkg peerDependencies	peer ranges of the latest version
npm audit	known vulnerabilities

Command	What it does
npm update	update within the ranges in package.json
npm update pkg	update one package within its range
npm install pkg@latest	move to the latest version, changing the range

Command	What it does
npm run	list scripts
npm run build	run the build script
npm run test -- --watch	pass extra arguments after --
npm test / npm start	shortcuts for the test and start scripts
npx tool	run a binary from node_modules/.bin, or download it once

Command	What it does
npm config list	effective configuration
npm config set key value --location project	write to the project .npmrc
npm config get registry	current registry URL
npm cache verify	check the cache and remove garbage