What Are The Differences Between npm and npx?

When working with Node.js, you will frequently encounter two important tools: npm and npx. While both npm and npx are integral to managing JavaScript dependencies, they serve different purposes.

The key difference between npm and npx is that npm is a package manager for installing and managing dependencies, whereas npx is an execution tool that allows you to run Node.js packages directly without installing them globally.

What is NPM?

The npm stands for Node Package Manager and it is the default package manager for Node.js. It is written entirely in JavaScript, developed by  Isaac Z. Schlueter, it was initially released on January 12, 2010. The npm manages all the packages and modules for node.js and consists of command-line client npm.

It gets installed into the system with the installation of node.js. The required packages and modules in the Node project are installed using npm. A package contains all the files needed for a module and modules are the JavaScript libraries that can be included in the Node project according to the requirements of the project.

You can check the version of the npm by running the following command:

npm -v

Key Features of npm

• Installs and manages packages (locally or globally).
• Maintains package.json file to track project dependencies.
• Provides scripts for automating tasks (like building and testing).
• Allows developers to publish their own packages to the npm registry.

What is NPX?

The npx stands for Node Package Execute and it comes with the npm, when you installed npm above 5.2.0 version then automatically npx will installed. It is an npm package runner that can execute any package that you want from the npm registry without even installing that package. The npx is useful during a single time use package. If you have installed npm below 5.2.0 then npx is not installed in your system.

You can check npx is installed or not by running the following command:

npx -v

If npx is not installed you can install that separately by running the below command.

npm install -g npx

Key Features of npx:

• Runs commands without globally installing the package.
• Automatically resolves and downloads the required package from the npm registry if it’s not already installed.
• Handles versioning issues by ensuring the latest or specific version of a package is executed.
• Useful for one-off scripts and commands like create-react-app or eslint.

Execution via NPM and NPX

1. Execute package with npm:

For executing a package using npm, we first have to install it and then you can execute it. 

Run the following command to install the required package.

npm install package_name

By typing the local path: You have to write down the local path of your package like below:

./node_modules/.bin/your-package-name

We can also execute it  by enlist them as a script in the package.json file and then execute them

{
    "name": "Your app",
    "version":  "1.0.0",
    "scripts":  {
            "your-package":  "your-package-name"
     }
}

To run package: After that, you can run your package by running the below command: 

npm run your-package-name

2. Execute package with npx: 

• Directly runnable: You can execute your package without installation, to do so run the following command.

npx your-package-name

Differences between npm and npx:

When to Use npm vs. npx

Use npm When:

• You need to install packages (locally or globally) for your project.
• You want to manage dependencies and ensure they are tracked in your package.json.
• You are working on a long-term project where you’ll frequently use the same packages and libraries.

Use npx When:

• You want to execute a package without permanently installing it.
• You’re running one-off commands like create-react-app, eslint, or package binaries.
• You need to run a specific version of a package or command without modifying your existing setup.