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Get the preferred Node.js version of a user or project.

This looks for (from highest to lowest priority):

• Any .n-node-version, .naverc, .node-version, .nodeenvrc .nvmrc or package.json (engines.node field) in the current directory, parent directories, or home directory
• Any NODE_VERSION, NODIST_NODE_VERSION environment variable

nvm aliases (like current or lts/erbium) and version ranges (like 12 or >=12) are resolved to regular "major.minor.patch" version strings.

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Examples

import preferredNodeVersion from 'preferred-node-version'

// Look for any `.nvmrc` or `package.json` (`engines.node` field)
const { version } = await preferredNodeVersion()
console.log(version) // 12.10.0

// Search only the home directory and environment variables
await preferredNodeVersion({ global: true })

// Start looking for a Node.js version file from this directory instead
await preferredNodeVersion({ cwd: '/path/to/cwd' })

// Search for specific files
await preferredNodeVersion({
  files: ['/path/to/.nvmrc', '/path/to/package.json'],
})

Install

npm install preferred-node-version

This package works in Node.js >=18.18.0.

This is an ES module. It must be loaded using an import or import() statement, not require(). If TypeScript is used, it must be configured to output ES modules, not CommonJS.

Usage

preferredNodeVersion(options?)

options: object?
Returns: Promise<object>

Return value

The returned promise resolves to an object with the following properties. An empty object is returned if no preferred Node.js version was found.

If a file cannot be read or if it contains an invalid version, the promise is rejected with an error.

version

Type: string

Full Node.js version. For example 12.16.2

rawVersion

Type: string

Node.js version as specified in the Node.js version file. This might include aliases or version ranges. For example latest, lts/erbium, 12 or 12.16.2.

filePath

Type: string?

Absolute path to the Node.js version file. Either filePath or envVariable is defined.

envVariable

Type: string?

Name of the environment variable containing the version. For example NODE_VERSION. Either filePath or envVariable is defined.

options

cwd

Type: string | URL
Default: process.cwd()

Start looking for a Node.js version file from this directory.

global

Type: boolean
Default: false

If true, find the global Node.js version instead:

• use only the home directory and environment variables
• ignore the current directory and parent directories

files

Type: string[]
Default: []

Additional files to lookup. Their filenames must be one of package.json, .nvmrc, etc.

mirror

Type: string
Default: https://nodejs.org/dist

Base URL to fetch the list of available Node.js versions. Can be customized (for example https://npmmirror.com/mirrors/node).

The following environment variables can also be used: NODE_MIRROR, NVM_NODEJS_ORG_MIRROR, N_NODE_MIRROR or NODIST_NODE_MIRROR.

fetch

Type: boolean
Default: undefined

The list of available Node.js versions is cached for one hour by default. If the fetch option is:

• true: the cache will not be used
• false: the cache will be used even if it's older than one hour

signal

Type: AbortSignal

Cancels when the signal is aborted.

NODE_VERSION_FILES

Type: string[]

List of filenames being searched: .nvmrc, package.json, etc.

See also

• nve: Run a specific Node.js version (CLI)
• nvexeca: Run a specific Node.js version (programmatic)
• get-node: Download Node.js
• normalize-node-version: Normalize and validate Node.js versions
• node-version-alias: Resolve Node.js version aliases like latest, lts or erbium
• all-node-versions: List all available Node.js versions
• fetch-node-website: Fetch releases on nodejs.org

Support

For any question, don't hesitate to submit an issue on GitHub.

Everyone is welcome regardless of personal background. We enforce a Code of conduct in order to promote a positive and inclusive environment.

Contributing

This project was made with ❤️. The simplest way to give back is by starring and sharing it online.

If the documentation is unclear or has a typo, please click on the page's Edit button (pencil icon) and suggest a correction.

If you would like to help us fix a bug or add a new feature, please check our guidelines. Pull requests are welcome!

Thanks go to our wonderful contributors: