Where Do npm-Installed Packages Actually Live?

Discovering the Location of NPM-Installed Packages

npm, a package manager for Node.js, simplifies the installation of third-party modules. However, users may wonder where these modules reside after installation.

Locating Global Libraries

Global libraries, installed system-wide for all users, are typically stored in one of the following directories:

• Unix systems: /usr/local/lib/node or /usr/local/lib/node_modules

To view a truncated list of global libraries and their paths, execute the command:

npm list -g | head -1

For a more comprehensive list, including sub-packages, use:

npm list --depth=0

To filter the list to globally installed packages, add the -g flag:

npm list -g --depth=0

Windows users can expect to find global libraries in the following locations:

• Windows XP: %USERPROFILE%AppDatanpmnode_modules
• Windows 7, 8, and 10: %USERPROFILE%AppDataRoamingnpmnode_modules

Locating Non-Global Libraries

Non-global libraries are installed within the node_modules subdirectory of the current working directory. To view the installed non-global libraries, execute:

npm list

Installing Packages Globally vs. Locally

By default, npm installs packages locally. To install a package globally, include the -g option:

• npm install -g pm2: Installs pm2 globally, typically placing it in /usr/local/lib/node_modules.
• npm install pm2: Installs pm2 locally, placing it in the current directory's node_modules subdirectory.

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