Where do global npm packages get installed on Ubuntu

Question

Where is the default global node_modules folder on Ubuntu. For example where would this get installed: npm install -g gulp

my gut tells me this would be better to ask on SU or AU (super user or ask ubuntu). — rlemon, Jul 18 '14 at 17:24
Not sure why you created this, there's plenty of information out there already. — SomeKittens, Jul 18 '14 at 17:25
I've had to google this several times and it always takes me a while to track down so I'm just posting it here to make it easier to find — rob, Jul 18 '14 at 17:25
well, like my original comment stated: this is more about a tool and less about an actual programming problem, so it should be on one of the aforementioned sites. — rlemon, Jul 18 '14 at 17:27

score 129 · Accepted Answer · edited Jul 28 '19 at 21:56

129

Run npm root -g to see the location, which varies. A common path is /usr/local/lib/node_modules.

For more info see the npm docs on Global vs. Local installation

edited Jul 28 '19 at 21:56

HappyFace

answered Jul 18 '14 at 17:24

rob

127

You can also see that by running `npm root -g` – Zirak Jul 18 '14 at 17:29
12

@Zirak please consider putting this as an answer as it's actually more useful than the accepted one, thanks! – Trufa May 20 '15 at 13:25
4

The answer is actually incorrect. It's /usr/local/lib/node_modules – shacharz Jul 12 '15 at 15:08
4

@Zirak His comment should be the answer--that link is long dead. – Daniel B. Chapman Sep 17 '16 at 01:44
20

`npm root -g` yields `/usr/lib/node_modules` on my Ubuntu installation. – kleinfreund Nov 19 '16 at 08:15
1

or at `/home/YOURNAMEINLOWERCASE/node_modules/` – behkod Jul 07 '17 at 13:27
2

`npm root -g` returns `/home/ubuntu/.npm-global/lib/node_modules` on EC2 ubuntu. – Jeff McMahan Oct 27 '17 at 18:12
1

This answer is generally incorrect. As pointed out many times, npm root -g, will give you the actual location. – Display name Nov 18 '17 at 03:34
3

@Zirak should be the right answer. – netlander Feb 05 '18 at 20:41
@Zirak is the right answer. Upvoted. – batbrain9392 Feb 02 '22 at 11:48

1 Answers1