What is Global Installation of Dependencies in NodeJS?
Last Updated :
18 Mar, 2025
Dependencies are packages or libraries that your project requires to function correctly. In NodeJS, dependencies are typically installed using npm (Node Package Manager). These dependencies can either be installed locally (specific to your project) or globally (available system-wide across all projects).
In this article, we will focus on the global installation of dependencies in NodeJS, explain when to use it, and how it differs from local installation.
What is the Global Installation of Dependencies?
In NodeJS, the global installation of dependencies refers to installing packages in a way that they are available for use across all projects on your system. When a package is installed globally, it is stored in a central location, usually the system’s global node_modules directory, rather than within a specific project’s directory.
Global installation allows you to run certain tools or commands from anywhere in your system without having to install them individually for each project.
Some of the key features of the global installation are mentioned below
- System-Wide Access: Packages are available from anywhere on your system.
- Single Installation: No need to install the same package for multiple projects.
- Executable Commands: Many globally installed packages provide command-line tools.
How to Install Dependencies Globally in NodeJS?
To install a package globally using npm, you can use the -g or --global flag. This flag tells npm to install the package globally, making it accessible system-wide.
Using npm
The primary way to install a package globally is by using the npm install -g command. Here’s the general syntax:
npm install -g <package-name>
Example
npm install -g mit-license-generator
Output
Check if the Package is Installed Globally
To verify that the package has been installed globally, you can use the following command:
npm list -g
Output
Uninstalling a Global Package
If you no longer need a globally installed package, you can uninstall it using the npm uninstall -g command:
npm uninstall -g <package-name>
Location of Global Packages
When you install a package globally, npm installs it in a system-wide directory. The exact location varies depending on your operating system:
- macOS/Linux: Global packages are typically installed in /usr/local/lib/node_modules.
- Windows: On Windows, global packages are installed in %AppData%\npm\node_modules.
You can check the global installation path by running:
npm config get prefix
This will display the directory where globally installed npm packages reside.
Why Use Global Installation?
- Reusability Across Projects: The main advantage of global installation is that you can reuse the same package across multiple projects. You don’t have to worry about re-installing the same package every time you start a new project, saving disk space and time.
- Command-Line Tools Accessibility: Many NodeJS tools (such as webpack, eslint, create-react-app, etc.) are designed to be run from the command line. Installing these tools globally allows you to use them in any project without having to install them every time.
- Simplified Usage: By installing a tool globally, you can easily execute it from the command line without navigating to the project directory where it is locally installed. This is especially helpful for utilities that you want to use frequently in different environments.
- No Need to Include as a Dependency in Projects: When you install a tool globally, you don’t need to add it as a dependency in the package.json of each project. This keeps the node_modules directory of your projects lighter and more focused on project-specific dependencies.
Local vs Global Installation
Feature | Local Installation | Global Installation |
|---|
Installation Scope | Installed in the node_modules directory of a specific project | Installed globally on the system, available for all projects |
|---|
Installation Command | npm install <package-name> | npm install -g <package-name> |
|---|
Package.json | Automatically added to package.json dependencies | Not added to package.json, unless explicitly added manually |
|---|
Usage | Only accessible within the project | Accessible from anywhere on your system |
|---|
Best Practices for Global Installation
While global installation is a powerful feature of npm, it’s essential to follow best practices to ensure you’re using it effectively:
- Install only command-line tools globally: Tools like create-react-app, webpack, and eslint are great candidates for global installation, as they are typically used across multiple projects.
- Use local installation for project-specific dependencies: Libraries and packages that are only used within a particular project (like React, Express, etc.) should be installed locally rather than globally to avoid version conflicts.
- Use nvm to manage NodeJS versions: If you have multiple projects requiring different versions of NodeJS, use nvm to switch between versions and avoid version conflicts with globally installed packages.
- Remove unused global packages: Periodically check for unused global packages and uninstall them to keep your system clean.
Conclusion
Global installation of dependencies in NodeJS provides a convenient way to access tools and packages across your system, making it easier to manage common utilities and command-line tools. However, it’s important to balance the use of global and local installations based on the specific needs of your projects to maintain a clean and conflict-free development environment.
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