Install Node.js and npm on Ubuntu: A Step-by-Step Guide

How to install Node.js from Ubuntu repositories

Node.js and npm can be installed on Ubuntu directly from official software sources using simple commands. This approach provides a stable version of Node.js for most projects and is a clear way to start using Node.js on your Ubuntu system.

sudo apt update
sudo apt install nodejs npm

Running that command installs several Node.js and npm packages. These include tools needed to compile and install native add-ons from npm.

Once the installation is complete, run the commands below to check the installed version.

nodejs --version

That should output a similar line as shown below:

v10.19.0

How to Install Node.js and npm from Snap

Snap packages bundle all necessary dependencies into a single package. Snaps are self-contained software packages. They update automatically and can revert to a prior version if a new update causes problems, making them a reliable choice for your development environment.

These self-contained packages run across multiple Linux distributions without extra configuration. Snaps update themselves automatically and can revert to a working version if a new update causes issues.

To install via Snap, run the commands below to install Snap.

sudo apt update
sudo apt install snapd

Once Snap is installed, run the commands below to get Node.js and npm installed via Snap. Choose the correct Node.js versions you want to install in Ubuntu.

For the Latest release (version 14),

sudo snap install node --channel=14/stable --classic

For version 13, run this:

sudo snap install node --channel=13/stable --classic

For the LTS (version 10)

sudo snap install node --channel=10/stable --classic

How to Install Node.js and npm from NodeSource

NodeSource offers a reliable method to install the latest Node.js versions on your Ubuntu system. This approach is perfect if you need the newest features and updates, ensuring your development tools are always current and giving you access to specific versions for your projects.

You can use the NodeSource repository to install a specific version of Node.js. Currently, the repository lists Node.js versions 14, 12, 11, 10, and 8. Note that version 14 is listed twice; typically, this refers to different release lines within the same major version.

To install Node.js from NodeSource, run the commands below to add the repository for your desired version.

Add the NodeSource repository for the specific release stream you want to use.

curl -sL https://deb.nodesource.com/setup_14.x | sudo -E bash -

For (version 12), run the commands below:

curl -sL https://deb.nodesource.com/setup_12.x | bash -

To install the LTS release (version 10), use this PPA

curl -sL https://deb.nodesource.com/setup_10.x | bash -

After adding the repository, you can now install the Node.js version you selected. If you add multiple repositories, your system will install the newest version of Node.js, not necessarily the Long Term Support (LTS) version.

Install Node.js and npm

After adding the NodeSource repositories, you can install Node.js and npm using the `sudo apt install nodejs` command. This single command installs both programs. You can then check the installed versions to confirm Node.js version 18.17.0 and npm version 9.6.7 are ready for use.

sudo apt install nodejs

After installing, both Node.js and npm modules should be ready to use.

You can use the commands below to view the installed version number.

node --version
npm --version

The commands will list the currently installed version:

v14.0.0
6.14.4

To test whether the web server is properly installed, run the commands below to create a test file called http_server.js in your home folder.

cd ~/
nano http_server.js

Then copy and paste the content below into the file and save it.

const http = require('http');

const hostname = '127.0.0.1';
const port = 3000;

const server = http.createServer((req, res) => {
  res.statusCode = 200;
  res.setHeader('Content-Type', 'text/plain');
  res.end('Hello Worldn');
});

server.listen(port, hostname, () => {
  console.log(`Server running at http://${hostname}:${port}/`);
});

After that, save the file and run the commands below to start the server.

node http_server.js

You should see an output that reads:

The server running at http://127.0.0.1:3000/

Now open your browser and browse to the server hostname or IP address followed by port 3000. You should see a default page with Hello World.

http://localhost:3000

That should do it!

Conclusion:

This installation guide provided steps to install Node.js and npm on Ubuntu Linux. If you encounter any errors or have additional information to share, feel free to use the comment form below.