Is npm install the same as npm install --save?

Question

I'm looking at the doc page for node and I'm not clear if

npm install gulp-util

is the same as

npm install gulp-util --save

In the doc it says:

"By default, npm install will install all modules listed as dependencies in package.json"

That feels like what --save does,

https://docs.npmjs.com/cli/install

Solution 1

Just running npm install with no arguments, will install everything listed in the dependencies area of the package.json file.

Running npm install <package-name> will install that package only, and will not add the package to the dependencies list in package.json

Running npm install <package-name> --save will install that package only, and will add the package to the dependencies list.

Update for npm 5+:

Running npm install <package-name> will install that package, and will add the package to the dependencies list.

Solution 2

npm install without specifying a package name will install the dependencies in your package.json.

npm install gulp-util will install gulp-util without modifying your package.json.

npm install gulp-util --save will install gulp-util and update your package.json, so that in the future when you or someone else runs npm install, they will install gulp-util without needing to specify it. package.json keeps track of your project's dependencies, so that you only have to run npm install after a fresh clone/pull/deployment/reinstall/whatever, instead of needing to manually install all dependencies by specifying their names.

Comments

[Josh Pittman]

This used to be true. NPM version 5 adds --save by default now. To be clear, ```npm install <package name>`` without the --save will still add the package to your package .json