NPM vs NPX

So, you might be wondering what the difference is between these two tools. Both npm and npx are package managers for JavaScript, and they both come pre-installed when you install Node.js.

First, let's talk about npm. npm stands for Node Package Manager, and it's used to install packages from the npm registry. You can use npm to install packages globally or locally to your project.

To install a package globally with npm, you would use the following command:

npm install -g <package_name>

To install a package locally to your project, you would use the following command:

npm install <package_name>

Now, let's talk about npx. npx is a tool that comes with npm, and it's used to execute packages that you have installed locally to your project.

One of the key differences between npm and npx is that you don't need to install the package globally or locally in order to use npx. npx will automatically install the package for you, and then execute it. This is especially useful for one-off commands or scripts that you only need to run a few times.

To use npx, you would use the following command:

npx <package_name>

So, when should you use npm versus npx?

If you're installing a package that you will be using in your project on a regular basis, then you should probably install it locally with npm. This will allow you to easily manage the package and its dependencies within your project.

On the other hand, if you only need to use a package a few times, or if you just want to try out a package without committing to installing it, then npx is the way to go. npx makes it easy to run packages without the hassle of installing them first.

I hope this video has helped clarify the difference between npm and npx. Thanks for watching!