NVM (Node Version Manager) is an indispensable tool for JavaScript developers that allows you to install, manage, and switch between multiple Node.js versions on a single machine. Unlike installing Node.js directly, nvm gives you complete control over your development environment, making it easy to work on projects with different Node.js requirements.
#Installation Guide
#macOS & Linux
# Using the install script (recommended)
curl -o- https://raw.githubusercontent.com/nvm-sh/nvm/v0.40.0/install.sh | bash
# Or using wget
wget -qO- https://raw.githubusercontent.com/nvm-sh/nvm/v0.40.0/install.sh | bash
# After installation, restart your terminal or source your shell profile
source ~/.bashrc # For bash
source ~/.zshrc # For zsh#Installation verification
Verify installation
# Check nvm version
nvm --version
# Example output: 0.40.0
# Check if nvm is properly loaded
command -v nvm
# Should output: nvm
# Get help with available commands
nvm --help#Version
Version Managment
# List all installed Node.js versions
nvm ls
# List all available Node.js versions
nvm ls-remote
# List available LTS versions
nvm ls-remote --lts
# Use a specific version
nvm use 18.19.0
# Set default Node.js version
nvm alias default 20.11.0
# Run a specific command with a Node.js version
nvm run 16.20.2 app.js
# Execute arbitrary command in a subshell with the specified version
nvm exec 18.19.0 node --version
# Check which version is currently being used
nvm current
# Uninstall a version
nvm uninstall 14.21.3