npm vs npx, which one is better?

Being a JavaScript developer, you come across the term npm & npx. Today I’m going to explain, what is npm vs npx, and their use-cases. At the first glance, both npm and npx looks similar tools as they both deal with the package installation in our apps. But if we dig deeper we see they both servers the different purpose. Understanding the differences between npm vs npx can significantly impact your development workflow. Learn more about Choosing the right Package Manager Tool. In this article, we focus on the comparison of npm vs npx to help you choose the right tool for your needs. When you explore npm vs npx, you'll find that each serves unique purposes in JavaScript development. What is npm? To grasp the full utility of both tools, it's essential to dive deeper into npm vs npx. npm (Node Package Manager) is the tool for installing and managing the packages & libraries in our project. There are ton of powerful packages available on npmjs website. The command we use in this context is vital to differentiate between npm vs npx. By reviewing the npm vs npx use cases, developers can streamline their workflows. In contrast, npx provides a different approach, which we will explore in the npm vs npx discussion. When considering npm vs npx, remember the key differences that affect package management. Recognizing the distinction in npm vs npx will aid in better project management strategies. Think of packages as a plugin which can be added via npm command. The npm tool can be installed via nodejs, and comes with a different commands for adding, deleting, updating any package in our application. All the packages installed by npm are added to node_modules folder and record has been kept in a package.json file. You can also add package globally in your local system using npm command. Let’s say, you want to add a formik (form handling) package into your react app. You may run this command. Using npm vs npx effectively can improve your coding efficiency and project management. Understanding npm vs npx is crucial for modern JavaScript developers. Ultimately, the choice of npm vs npx depends on your specific workflow needs. npm install formik ShellScript Therefore, understanding npm vs npx is essential for effective JavaScript development. This command add formik into your project’s node_module folder and update the package.json file. By simply running this command we can easily use this package in our react app just by importing it. What is npx? npx is a new tool that comes with the npm version v5.2.0. While npm is about installing packages, npx is about running packages. npx is used to run commands from packages without installing packages globally in your system. Confused? I’m also confused at this point. This is the main difference between npm & npx. Let’s see an example to understand with a real-world example: Lets say, we’re going to install react app using create-react-app package, which give us a complete boilerplate for quickly getting started with reactjs. It has a command associated with called create-react-app which setup the project for us. With npm, It can be done like that: npm install -g create-react-app ShellScript We need to install package globally in order to use create-react-app . create-react-app frontend-challenge-app ShellScript Running this command setup react boilerplate for us. In this case, we need to manually manage our global apps, which takes space in our local system Manually take care of updating this package for future versions. The only good thing is it is available offline. But using npx, It can skip the global installation, runs the command and quickly install & setup react boilerplate for us in a single command. This way we don’t need to install globally. Auto runs the commands setup boilerplate in a single command. Every time running this command we get the latest & updated version. It is not available offline. Why was npx created? We have seen two methods above and see the difference between them. But we are still wonder, why do we need npx when npm already exists? The answer to this question is to make things more user-friendly by: 1.Avoiding the need to install package globally Some packages of npm requires to run command, which is why we should need to install them globally. This can clutters our system with tools we used once. npx eliminates this need by allowing to run command with installing globally. It not only saves our time but also prevent us from unnecessary global installations and also keep our development enviroment clean. 2. Runing the specific versions of packages Once we install packages globally, it run only with a specific version. which we need to manually upgrade or downgrade to that node version. But with npx, we can run a specific version of package on the fly. When to use npm? When we need to install and manage project depend

Apr 7, 2025 - 19:48

Being a JavaScript developer, you come across the term npm & npx. Today I’m going to explain, what is npm vs npx, and their use-cases.

At the first glance, both npm and npx looks similar tools as they both deal with the package installation in our apps. But if we dig deeper we see they both servers the different purpose.

Understanding the differences between npm vs npx can significantly impact your development workflow.

Learn more about Choosing the right Package Manager Tool.

In this article, we focus on the comparison of npm vs npx to help you choose the right tool for your needs.

When you explore npm vs npx, you'll find that each serves unique purposes in JavaScript development.

What is npm?

To grasp the full utility of both tools, it's essential to dive deeper into npm vs npx.

npm (Node Package Manager) is the tool for installing and managing the packages & libraries in our project. There are ton of powerful packages available on npmjs website.

The command we use in this context is vital to differentiate between npm vs npx.

By reviewing the npm vs npx use cases, developers can streamline their workflows.

In contrast, npx provides a different approach, which we will explore in the npm vs npx discussion.

When considering npm vs npx, remember the key differences that affect package management.

Recognizing the distinction in npm vs npx will aid in better project management strategies.

Think of packages as a plugin which can be added via npm command. The npm tool can be installed via nodejs, and comes with a different commands for adding, deleting, updating any package in our application.

All the packages installed by npm are added to node_modules folder and record has been kept in a package.json file. You can also add package globally in your local system using npm command.

Let’s say, you want to add a formik (form handling) package into your react app. You may run this command.

Using npm vs npx effectively can improve your coding efficiency and project management.

Understanding npm vs npx is crucial for modern JavaScript developers.

Ultimately, the choice of npm vs npx depends on your specific workflow needs.

npm install formik

ShellScript

Therefore, understanding npm vs npx is essential for effective JavaScript development.

This command add formik into your project’s node_module folder and update the package.json file. By simply running this command we can easily use this package in our react app just by importing it.

What is npx?

npx is a new tool that comes with the npm version v5.2.0. While npm is about installing packages, npx is about running packages. npx is used to run commands from packages without installing packages globally in your system. Confused? I’m also confused at this point.

This is the main difference between npm & npx. Let’s see an example to understand with a real-world example:

Lets say, we’re going to install react app using create-react-app package, which give us a complete boilerplate for quickly getting started with reactjs. It has a command associated with called create-react-app which setup the project for us.

With npm, It can be done like that:

npm install -g create-react-app

ShellScript

We need to install package globally in order to use create-react-app .

create-react-app frontend-challenge-app

ShellScript

Running this command setup react boilerplate for us.

In this case,

we need to manually manage our global apps, which takes space in our local system
Manually take care of updating this package for future versions.
The only good thing is it is available offline.

But using npx, It can skip the global installation, runs the command and quickly install & setup react boilerplate for us in a single command.

This way we don’t need to install globally.
Auto runs the commands setup boilerplate in a single command.
Every time running this command we get the latest & updated version.
It is not available offline.

Why was npx created?

We have seen two methods above and see the difference between them. But we are still wonder, why do we need npx when npm already exists?

The answer to this question is to make things more user-friendly by:

1.Avoiding the need to install package globally

Some packages of npm requires to run command, which is why we should need to install them globally. This can clutters our system with tools we used once.

npx eliminates this need by allowing to run command with installing globally. It not only saves our time but also prevent us from unnecessary global installations and also keep our development enviroment clean.

2. Runing the specific versions of packages

Once we install packages globally, it run only with a specific version. which we need to manually upgrade or downgrade to that node version.

But with npx, we can run a specific version of package on the fly.

When to use npm?

When we need to install and manage project dependencies. e.g, npm install formik
When we need to globally install useful packages. e.g, npm install -g nodemon

When to use npx?

When we needed to run CLI commands without installing them globally. e.g, npx create-react-app frontend-challenges
To run specific version of packages. e.g, npx eslint@7.5.0

Wrapping up

In summary, both npm vs npx have their strengths, and knowing when to use each is key.

npm & npx are both useful tools. They both serves the different purpose. If npm is used to add or manage project dependencies, npx simplifies the things for developers, especially when running one-off commands and avoid unnecessary installations.

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