node.jsnpm

npm install vs. update - what's the difference?

What is the practical difference between npm install and npm update? When should I use which?

Solution

  • The difference between npm install and npm update handling of package versions specified in package.json:

    {
  "name": "my-project",
  "version": "1.0",                               // install   update
  "dependencies": {                               // ------------------
    "already-installed-versionless-module": "*",  // ignores   "1.0" -> "1.1"
    "already-installed-semver-module": "^1.4.3"   // ignores   "1.4.3" -> "1.5.2"
    "already-installed-versioned-module": "3.4.1" // ignores   ignores
    "not-yet-installed-versionless-module": "*",  // installs  installs
    "not-yet-installed-semver-module": "^4.2.1"   // installs  installs
    "not-yet-installed-versioned-module": "2.7.8" // installs  installs
  }
}

    Summary: The only big difference is that an already installed module with fuzzy versioning ...

    Additionally: install and update by default handle devDependencies differently

    Why use npm install at all?

    Because npm install does more when you look besides handling your dependencies in package.json. As you can see in npm install you can ...