How to Install Node.js and NPM on Ubuntu

Node.js is a lightweight, cross-platform JavaScript server runtime environment for building fast and scalable network applications. It offers various JS modules, supports consistent and integrated development, and comes with Node Package Manager (NPM) for managing package dependencies.

This tutorial will show you how to install Node.js and NPM on Ubuntu using three different methods. 

Prerequisites

• Ubuntu installed (The procedures below have been tested on Ubuntu 24.04 LTS).
• Command-line access.
• A user with sudo privileges.

3 Ways to Install Node.js and NPM on Ubuntu

The following sections provide instructions for installing Node.js and NPM on Ubuntu using three different methods:

• Ubuntu repository.
• Node Version Manager (NVM).
• NodeSource repository.

Select a method and follow the steps below to complete the installation.

Option 1: Install Node.js and NPM from Ubuntu Repository

Install Node.js and NPM from the Ubuntu repository by using the following procedure:

1. Update the package repository information:

sudo apt update

2. Install Node.js and NPM with the following command:

sudo apt install nodejs npm

3. Confirm that the installation was successful by checking the Node.js version on the system:

nodejs -v

4. Perform the version check for NPM:

npm -v

Option 2: Install Node.js and NPM with NVM

Another way to install Node.js and NPM is with the Node Version Manager (NVM), a practical tool for managing multiple Node.js versions on the system.

Follow the steps below to install Node.js and NPM using NVM:

1. Download the NVM installation script from GitHub using the curl command:

curl -o- https://raw.githubusercontent.com/creationix/nvm/v[version]/install.sh | bash

Replace [version] with the latest version number on the official NVM GitHub page. For example, to install version 0.40.1, type the following:

curl -o- https://raw.githubusercontent.com/creationix/nvm/v0.40.1/install.sh | bash

The script auto-executes, clones the NVM repository, and adds the NVM path to the shell.

2. Restart the terminal.

3. Check if the installation was successful by verifying the NVM version:

nvm --version

4. Find a list of all the available Node.js versions with the command:

nvm ls-remote

The output shows a list of Node.js versions, including the latest Long-term Support (LTS) version.

5. Use the nvm install command and provide a version number in the argument. For example:

nvm install 22.14.0

6. Enter the following command to view all the installed versions on the system:

nvm ls

The output shows a list of installed Node.js versions alongside other related information.

7. Check the currently active version with the command below:

node -v 

8. Switch between installed Node.js versions with the following command:

nvm use [version]

For example:

nvm use 22.14.0

Option 3: Install Node.js from NodeSource Repository

Install Node.js and NPM from the NodeSource repository by adding the relevant PPA (Personal Package Archive) for Ubuntu:

1. Use the following bash script to enable NodeSource:

curl -sL https://deb.nodesource.com/setup_[version].x | sudo -E bash -

Replace [version] with the desired version number. For example, to install version 23, type the following:

curl -sL https://deb.nodesource.com/setup_23.x | sudo -E bash -

3. Install Node.js and NPM with the command below:

sudo apt install nodejs

Installing Development Tools

Once you have Node.js and NPM set up, install the development tools. This automation tool kit allows compiling and installing native add-ons from the NPM.

To install development tools, run the command:

sudo apt install build-essential

Remove Or Uninstall Node.js on Ubuntu

The uninstallation method for Node.js and NPM depends on how the tools were installed:

• For Node.js versions installed with NPM, run the nvm uninstall command appended by the version number. For example, to uninstall version 23.5.0, run the command:

nvm uninstall 23.5.0

• For Node.js versions installed using APT, use the command below:

sudo apt remove nodejs 

To uninstall Node.js and remove any of its configuration files, use the command:

sudo apt purge nodejs

Conclusion

This tutorial taught you how to install Node.js and NPM on Ubuntu. It also provided instructions on how to remove or uninstall these tools.

Node.js is part of the MEAN stack. Read our article to learn How to Install and Set Up MEAN Stack on Ubuntu.