Installing Node.js

Node.js is a JavaScript runtime that allows JavaScript code to run outside a web browser.

JavaScript
    ↓
Node.js Runtime
    ↓
Computer

Node.js is commonly used for development tools, servers, command-line programs, and JavaScript-based tooling.

React code is ultimately used to build browser-based user interfaces, but React development projects commonly use Node.js-based tools during development.

Node.js
   ↓
Package Manager
   ↓
React Project Tools
   ↓
Development
   ↓
React Application

npm is a package manager commonly used with Node.js. It can install packages, manage project dependencies, and run commands defined by a project's configuration.

Node.js
   +
npm
   ↓
JavaScript Project

Node.js provides the runtime, while npm is commonly used to manage JavaScript packages and project commands.

Node.js
 ├── JavaScript Runtime
 │
 └── npm
      ├── Install Packages
      ├── Manage Dependencies
      └── Run Scripts

After installing Node.js, you can check the installed version from a terminal.

node --version

If Node.js is installed correctly, the command displays a version number.

You can also check the npm version using the terminal.

npm --version

A version number indicates that npm is available from your command line.

Node.js can be downloaded from the official Node.js website.

Visit the Node.js download page and choose the installer appropriate for your operating system.

Official Website
       ↓
Download Node.js
       ↓
Choose Operating System
       ↓
Install

On Windows, Node.js can be installed using the Windows installer provided by the Node.js project.

Windows
   ↓
Node.js Installer
   ↓
Installation
   ↓
Command Prompt / PowerShell
   ↓
node --version

Node.js can also be installed on macOS using an appropriate installer or other supported installation methods.

macOS
  ↓
Install Node.js
  ↓
Terminal
  ↓
node --version

Node.js can be installed on Linux using installation methods appropriate for the particular Linux distribution.

Linux
  ↓
Install Node.js
  ↓
Terminal
  ↓
node --version

Installation commands can differ between Linux distributions.

On systems using an installer, the installation process normally provides a series of setup screens.

Installer
   ↓
License
   ↓
Installation Location
   ↓
Features
   ↓
Install
   ↓
Finish

During installation, Node.js files are placed in an installation directory selected by the installer.

For most beginners, the default installation location is suitable unless there is a specific reason to change it.

The operating system uses the PATH environment variable to locate executable programs from the command line.

Terminal
   ↓
node --version
   ↓
PATH
   ↓
Node.js Executable

A correctly configured PATH allows commands such as node and npm to be used from the terminal.

On Windows, you can use Command Prompt or PowerShell to execute Node.js commands.

Windows
   ↓
Command Prompt / PowerShell
   ↓
node --version

On macOS and Linux, the Terminal application can be used to execute Node.js and npm commands.

Terminal
   ↓
node --version
npm --version

After installation, open a new terminal and run:

node --version

You should see the installed Node.js version.

vXX.XX.X

The exact version displayed depends on the version installed on your computer.

Run the following command:

npm --version

If npm is correctly available, the terminal will display its version number.

You can test Node.js by creating a JavaScript file.

console.log("Hello Node.js");

Save the file as test.js and run:

node test.js

The terminal should display:

Hello Node.js

Before creating a React project, you can create or choose a folder where your projects will be stored.

mkdir react-projects
cd react-projects

The exact commands can vary depending on your operating system and terminal.

npm can download and manage packages required by a JavaScript project.

npm install package-name

The package information is recorded in the project's package configuration.

A JavaScript project commonly contains a package.json file. It stores project information, scripts, and dependency declarations.

{
    "name": "my-react-app",
    "scripts": {},
    "dependencies": {}
}

When packages are installed, their files are commonly stored in a node_modules directory.

Project
 |
 +-- package.json
 |
 +-- node_modules/
 |
 +-- src/

This directory can contain many files because packages may have their own dependencies.

Projects can define commands in the scripts section of package.json.

{
    "scripts": {
        "dev": "..."
    }
}

The command can then be executed using:

npm run dev

Node.js is not a web browser. It provides a JavaScript runtime for executing JavaScript outside the browser.

If the terminal shows an error such as:

'node' is not recognized

Node.js may not be installed correctly or its executable may not be available through the system PATH.

After installation, opening a new terminal can also be necessary so that environment changes are recognized.

A correctly configured Node.js installation should normally allow the node command to work from a terminal without navigating to the Node.js installation directory.

cd Desktop
node --version

If the version is displayed, the command is available from that location.

Node.js is commonly part of the React development environment. It allows developers to use JavaScript tooling and package managers needed by React projects.

Node.js
   ↓
npm
   ↓
React Dependencies
   ↓
Development Tools
   ↓
React Application

• Download Node.js from its official source.
• Install Node.js for your operating system.
• Open a new terminal after installation.
• Run node --version.
• Run npm --version.
• Confirm that both commands work.
• Choose a folder for your React projects.

Download Node.js
       ↓
Install Node.js
       ↓
Open Terminal
       ↓
node --version
       ↓
npm --version
       ↓
Create Project Folder
       ↓
Ready for React Development

Node.js is an important part of many modern JavaScript development environments. For React development, it is commonly used with npm and other tools to install dependencies, run development commands, and build applications.

Node.js
   +
npm
   ↓
JavaScript Tooling
   ↓
React Development

After verifying node --version and npm --version, you are ready to move to the next step: setting up your development environment.