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npm:tldr:d5311
The command "npm install" is used in Node.js to install the dependencies of a project. "npm" stands for Node Package Manager, which is a tool used to manage and install packages (or dependencies) in Node.js projects.
When you run "npm install" in the terminal or command prompt, it looks for a file called "package.json" in the current directory. The "package.json" file contains metadata about the project, including a list of dependencies required for the project to function properly.
The "npm install" command reads the "package.json" file and downloads the required packages from the npm registry, which is a public repository of Node.js packages. It then stores the installed packages in a folder called "node_modules" in the project directory.
By running "npm install", you ensure that all the required dependencies listed in the "package.json" file are installed, allowing the project to run properly. It is common practice to include the "node_modules" folder in the project's version control system's ignore list because it can be easily regenerated by running "npm install" again on another system.