Dependencies in Node.js

Overview

In Node.js, dependencies are libraries or modules that your application needs to function properly. These can include frameworks, utility libraries, and any other reusable code. Managing dependencies efficiently is crucial for maintaining a healthy project.

Types of Dependencies

There are two main types of dependencies in Node.js:

Regular Dependencies: These are libraries required for your application to run. They are specified in the dependencies field of your package.json file.
Development Dependencies: These are libraries needed only during development, such as testing frameworks and build tools. They are specified in thedevDependencies field.

Installing Dependencies

To install a dependency, you can use the following commands:

# Install a regular dependency
npm install <package-name>

# Install a development dependency
npm install <package-name> --save-dev

Viewing Installed Dependencies

You can view all installed dependencies by checking the package.json file or running:

# List installed packages
npm list --depth=0

Updating Dependencies

To update your dependencies, you can use the following command:

# Update all dependencies
npm update