package.json and npm scripts

package.json describes a Node.js project. It can contain metadata, dependencies, development dependencies, and repeatable scripts.

Dependencies

Runtime packages normally belong in dependencies. Development-only tools belong in devDependencies.

Scripts

Scripts give your team consistent commands for starting, testing, linting, and building the application.

Deep dive

Important package.json fields

• name: project/package name.
• version: project version.
• scripts: repeatable commands.
• dependencies: packages needed at runtime.
• devDependencies: packages used during development.

package-lock.json

The lock file records resolved dependency versions and helps teams install a consistent dependency tree. In most application projects, commit the lock file to version control.