npm install | Install missing packages. |
npm install package --save | Save installed packages to the package.json file as dependencies. Will be available in all builds, including production. |
npm install package --save-dev | Save installed packages to the package.json file, under the devDependencies object, as dependencies. Will be available only in dev builds, i.e. not production. |
npm list -g --depth=0 | List globally installed packages. |
npm uninstall -g [package_name] | Uninstall a global package. |
npm outdated | List outdated packages. |
npm update | This will update the package-lock.json file but not the package.json file. |
npm view [package_name] | List basic information about a package. |
npm view [package_name] versions --json | List version information about a package. |
The easiest way is to use the npm-check-updates package. Yes, that is correct - NPM's update is so bad, you need to use a seperate package to make it work better…
npm install -g npm-check-updates | Installs npm-check-updates |
npm-check-updates | Lists what packages are out of date (basically the same thing as running npm outdated) |
npm-check-updates -u | Updates all the versions in your package.json file. |
npm update | To install the new versions of your packages based on the updated package.json file. |
For global packages:
npm-check-updates -g (Run as admin) | Lists what global packages are out of date and gives the command to update them. |
^1.2.3 | Means any 1.x.y version that is equal or higher than 1.2.3 and less than 2.0.0. |
^0.1.2 | The leading zero is a special case. Means any 0.1.x version that is equal or higher than 0.1.2 and less than 0.2.0. |
~2.4.5 | Patch version only. Means any 2.4.x version that is equal or higher than 2.4.5 and less than 2.5.0. |