npx
Packages and runtimes
Usage
npx [-y] <package>[@version] [args...]Runs a package binary, preferring node_modules/.bin and otherwise fetching it temporarily; because a typo can pull a stranger package from the registry, --no keeps it local-only.
Common flags
| Flag | Meaning |
|---|---|
| -y | install without asking first |
| --no | fail instead of downloading anything |
| -p <pkg> | make a package available, then run a command from it |
| -c "<cmd>" | run the command through a shell with the bin path set |
| --package <pkg> | the long form of -p |
Examples
npx tsc --noEmitruns the typescript in node_modules, no global install
npx -y create-next-app@latest my-appfetches a scaffolder for one use and forgets it
npx --no eslint .uses the local eslint or fails, instead of quietly downloading one
The question is always what goes where: inside this project, or on the whole machine.
How to read this
- Square brackets [ ] mark a part you may leave out.
- An ellipsis … means you can list more than one.
- Flags are case-sensitive — in some commands -r and -R do different things.
Questions
Q. What does npx do?
Runs a package binary, preferring node_modules/.bin and otherwise fetching it temporarily; because a typo can pull a stranger package from the registry, --no keeps it local-only.
Q. How do I type it?
npx [-y] <package>[@version] [args...] — square brackets mark the parts you can leave out.
Q. How many flags are worth knowing?
5 are listed here; the full set is in man npx. This command sits under Packages and runtimes.
Related commands
man page: man npx