How to Install Node on Mac
Installing Node.js on your Mac is a straightforward process that allows you to run JavaScript outside of a browser. Node.js is an open-source, cross-platform runtime environment that enables developers to execute JavaScript code on the server side. In this article, we will guide you through the steps to install Node.js on your Mac.
1. Check if Node.js is already installed
Before proceeding with the installation, it’s essential to verify if Node.js is already installed on your Mac. To do this, open the Terminal and type the following command:
“`
node -v
“`
If Node.js is installed, you will see the version number displayed. If not, you can proceed with the installation.
2. Install Homebrew
Homebrew is a package manager for macOS that simplifies the installation of software. If you don’t have Homebrew installed, you can install it by running the following command in the Terminal:
“`
/bin/bash -c “$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/HEAD/install.sh)”
“`
Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation.
3. Install Node.js using Homebrew
Once Homebrew is installed, you can install Node.js by running the following command in the Terminal:
“`
brew install node
“`
Homebrew will automatically download and install the latest version of Node.js, as well as npm (Node Package Manager), which is a package manager for JavaScript.
4. Verify the installation
After the installation is complete, verify that Node.js and npm are installed correctly by running the following commands in the Terminal:
“`
node -v
npm -v
“`
You should see the version numbers of Node.js and npm displayed, confirming that the installation was successful.
5. Install additional Node.js versions (optional)
If you need to work with multiple versions of Node.js, you can use the `nvm` (Node Version Manager) tool. To install `nvm`, follow these steps:
1. Install `nvm` by running the following command in the Terminal:
“`
curl -o- install.sh | bash
“`
2. Close and reopen your Terminal or source your `.bash_profile` or `.zshrc` file to load the `nvm` script:
“`
source ~/.bash_profile
“`
3. Install the desired Node.js version using `nvm`:
“`
nvm install 14.17.0
“`
4. Set the installed version as the default version:
“`
nvm use 14.17.0
“`
Now you have successfully installed Node.js on your Mac, and you can start developing JavaScript applications on the server side.
