npm, or Node Package Manager, is a comprehensive tool that serves several vital functions in software development, particularly in the JavaScript and Node.js ecosystems. Here’s a detailed breakdown of what npm is used for:
Package Management: npm acts as a package manager for JavaScript, allowing developers to install, update, and manage reusable code packages from the npm registry. This registry is a large database of open-source projects available for public use, making it the largest software registry in the world[1][4].
Dependency Management: npm is crucial for managing dependencies of JavaScript projects. Dependencies are external code libraries or packages that a project needs to function correctly. npm automates the installation, upgrading, and removal of these packages, ensuring that projects have the necessary components without manual oversight[1][2][4].
Project Initialization: npm can initialize new projects through the npm init command, which creates a package.json file in the project directory. This file includes vital information about the project, such as name, version, dependencies, scripts, and more, which helps in defining and managing the project’s configuration and dependencies[1][5].
Running Scripts: npm can be used to run scripts defined in the package.json file, automating tasks like starting, stopping, and testing the application. This feature simplifies the process of managing and executing custom tasks during development[2][5].
