Using NVM (Recommended for Developers)

Node Version Manager (NVM) lets you install and switch between multiple versions of Node.js and npm on the same machine — useful when different projects require different Node versions.

1. Download and run the NVM installation script:

   curl -o- https://raw.githubusercontent.com/nvm-sh/nvm/v0.40.1/install.sh | bash

2. Apply the changes to your current shell session:

   source ~/.bashrc

3. Install the latest Long-Term Support (LTS) version of Node.js, which includes npm:

   nvm install --lts

Using NodeSource (For a Specific Stable Version)

Use this method if you need a specific major version of Node.js (for example, v20 or v22) installed directly via apt.

1. Add the NodeSource repository for your desired version (here, 20.x):

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

2. Install Node.js (this also installs npm):

   sudo apt install -y nodejs

Verify the Installation

Regardless of the method used, confirm that Node.js and npm installed correctly by checking their versions:

node -v
npm -v

Each command should return a version number. If you see an error like command not found, the installation didn’t complete successfully — restart your terminal and try again.