How to Check Node Js Version — Simple, Cross-platform Guide


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You need to confirm which Node.js version your app is running . That mismatch between the version you think you have and the version actually on the machine breaks builds, CI, and installs — silently — and wastes hours debugging. The fastest fix is knowing the exact commands and a repeatable checklist for Windows, macOS, Linux and editors like Visual Studio / VS Code — this guide shows the commands, how to run .js files, how to check npm too, and how to update Node safely. Knowing how to check node js version is a tiny step that prevents big headaches.

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Quick answers (one-liners)

  • Check Node.js version (any shell): node -v or node --version.

  • Check npm version: npm -v or npm --version.

How to check if Node.js is installed (and where)

  1. Open Command Prompt (Windows), PowerShell, Terminal (macOS/Linux) or the integrated terminal in VS Code.

  2. Run:

    • node -v — prints Node’s version (e.g., v18.17.0) if installed.

    • npm -v — prints npm’s version (e.g., 10.9.2) if npm is present.

  3. If you get “command not found” or 'node' is not recognized — Node is not installed or not on PATH. On Windows, also check %ProgramFiles%\nodejs and the PATH environment variable.

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How to check node.js version on cmd (Windows Command Prompt / PowerShell)

  • Open cmd.exe or PowerShell and run:

    • node -v

    • node --version

  • If PowerShell shows an older Node from tools like nodist, nvm-windows or a bundled installer, run where node to identify the binary path and confirm which one is active.

  • If node -v works but you expected a different version, you likely have multiple Node installs; remove old installers and prefer a version manager (nvm-windows) for clarity.

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How to check Node.js version in Linux / macOS

  • Open Terminal and run:

    • node -v

    • node --version

  • If you installed with a package manager (apt, yum, brew) or via version manager (nvm, n), the version printed reflects the active runtime. For nvm use nvm ls to list installed Node versions and show the current one.

How to run node.js in terminal — run scripts and REPL

  • Run a script file: node script.js (run from the folder containing script.js).

  • Start interactive REPL: just run node with no args, type JS expressions and press Enter. Node’s docs explain CLI usage and REPL basics.

How to run .js in terminal / How to execute js using node

  • Create a file hello.js:

    console.log(‘hello from node’);
  • In terminal: node hello.js → prints hello from node.

  • For quick one-liners without a file: node -e "console.log('hi')".

How to Check Node Js Version

How to run node and npm together (typical workflow)

  • Install project dependencies: npm install (reads package.json and installs node_modules).

  • Run scripts in package.json: npm run start or npm run build. These scripts execute Node under the hood — you can invoke node directly for quick tasks: node scripts/myscript.js.

  • To run commands installed locally in node_modules/.bin use npx <cmd> (for one-off runs).

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How to check npm version

  • In any terminal: npm -v or npm --version.

  • Use npm ls -g --depth=0 to list globally installed packages and their versions. To inspect a package in the current project: npm ls <package-name>.

How to check Node.js version in Visual Studio (full Visual Studio)

  • Visual Studio (not Code) can use Node.js tools or external installs. In a Node project, open the Package Manager Console or integrated terminal and run node -v.

  • If Visual Studio uses a bundled Node for tasks, check Tools → Options → Projects and Solutions → External Web Tools to see the PATH order.

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Node.js tutorial in Visual Studio Code (quick steps)

  1. Open VS Code.

  2. Open the integrated terminal: `Ctrl+“ (backtick).

  3. Run node -v and npm -v to confirm versions.

  4. Create index.js, write console.log(process.version) or console.log('hi'), run node index.js.

  5. Use the VS Code Debugger: press F5, choose “Node.js” launch configuration to run and debug.

  6. To run npm scripts: open the NPM SCRIPTS view in the Explorer or run npm run <script> in terminal.

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How to run npm in VS Code

  • Use the integrated terminal: npm install, npm run dev, etc.

  • Or use the NPM Scripts explorer (sidebar) — click an entry to run it. VS Code will run using the terminal shell and the active PATH (so it will use the same Node/npm you checked earlier).

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How to Update Node.js Versions on Windows (safe options)

Options ranked by safety and control:

  1. nvm-windows (recommended): uninstall other Node installs, install nvm-windows, then nvm install 18.17.0 and nvm use 18.17.0. This lets you switch versions without breaking PATH.

  2. Node installer from nodejs.org: download the Windows installer for the target version and run it (simpler, but may leave multiple installs).

  3. Chocolatey: choco upgrade nodejs (if you manage packages with Chocolatey).
    Tip: After updating, confirm with node -v and npm -v. If npm is out of sync, npm install -g npm@latest updates npm.

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Mini case study: Fixing a CI build caused by Node mismatch

Problem: CI used Node 14 locally but CI runner defaulted to Node 18 — native dependency failed to build. Fix: added .nvmrc with required version, updated CI config to nvm install the exact version, and added node -v step in CI logs to confirm. Result: reproducible builds and no more silent failures.

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People also ask

How to run code in terminal? — Save the file and run with the runtime (node file.js) or use an interpreter/REPL (node).
How to run .js in terminal?node yourfile.js.
How to run npm in VS Code? — Use the integrated terminal or the NPM Scripts explorer.
How to execute js using node? — See “How to run .js in terminal” above.

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Key Takeaways

  • node -v and node --version are the universal, quickest ways to check the Node.js version.

  • npm -v shows your npm CLI version; update npm separately if needed.

  • Use a version manager (nvm / nvm-windows) to avoid conflicting installs and make switching painless.

  • In editors (VS Code / Visual Studio) the integrated terminal reflects the same runtime — always check there first.

  • Add node -v to CI logs and .nvmrc to repos to ensure reproducible environments.

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FAQs (People Also Ask)

Q: What if node -v prints a different version than nvm current?
A: That means your shell PATH points to a different Node binary. Use which node (macOS/Linux) or where node (Windows) to see the path, then fix PATH order or nvm use <version>.

Q: Does npm -v always match the Node version?
A: Not necessarily. npm is a separate tool and can be updated independently (npm install -g npm@latest) — verify both node -v and npm -v after updates.

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Q: How do I check Node’s exact build/engine (V8) version?
A: In Node run node -p "process.versions" to print an object with node, npm, v8, and other component versions.

Q: Can I check Node version programmatically inside my app?
A: Yes — use process.version or process.versions.node in your JavaScript to read the runtime version and log or fail fast if unsupported.

Conclusion

Knowing how to check node js version is a tiny step that prevents big headaches. With node -v and npm -v you get immediate, authoritative answers; use version managers and CI checks to keep environments consistent. Try the commands above in your terminal or VS Code right now — then add node -v to your build logs and put an .nvmrc in active projects to lock the runtime.

Sources

  1. Node.js — release & documentation pages (CLI / Release notes). Node.js+1

  2. npm Docs — checking and updating npm; commands reference. npm Docs