Install Node.js and Check the Node.js Version

What Node.js is

Node.js is an open-source, cross-platform runtime that runs JavaScript outside the browser. It uses the V8 engine of Chrome. With Node.js you can write the back end of an app in the same language as the front end. It is event-driven and non-blocking, so it is fast for network apps.

Windows

Open the official Node.js download page and download the Windows installer (the .msi file). Choose the LTS version for a stable release.
Run the installer and accept the license. Keep the default settings.
Restart the computer if you need to.
Open Command Prompt and check:

node -v
npm -v

macOS

Download the macOS installer (.pkg) from the Node.js website.
Open the file and follow the steps.
Open Terminal and check:

node -v
npm -v

You can also install it with Homebrew: brew install node.

Linux

Ubuntu and Debian

sudo apt update
sudo apt install nodejs npm

Check the version:

node -v
npm -v

The version in the distribution repository can be old. To get a newer one, use the NodeSource repository. For example, for Node.js 20:

curl -fsSL https://deb.nodesource.com/setup_20.x | sudo -E bash -
sudo apt install -y nodejs

Or use nvm, which lets you switch between versions:

curl -o- https://raw.githubusercontent.com/nvm-sh/nvm/v0.39.7/install.sh | bash
source ~/.bashrc
nvm install --lts
nvm ls

Check the version at any time

node --version

Quick recap

Use the installer on Windows and macOS, or apt / NodeSource / nvm on Linux.
Check with node -v and npm -v.
Pick an LTS version for production.