# Node Version Manager (NVM) [](https://app.travis-ci.com/nvm-sh/nvm) [](https://github.com/nvm-sh/nvm/releases) [](https://bestpractices.dev/projects/684) --- **Node Version Manager (NVM)** is a versatile tool that empowers developers to manage multiple Node.js versions effortlessly. With NVM, switching between Node.js versions becomes seamless, ensuring compatibility and flexibility for diverse projects. --- ## Table of Contents - [Introduction](#introduction) - [About NVM](#about-nvm) - [Installation and Updates](#installation-and-updates) - [Install & Update Script](#install--update-script) - [Verify Installation](#verify-installation) - [Important Notes](#important-notes) - [Git Installation](#git-installation) - [Manual Installation](#manual-installation) - [Manual Upgrade](#manual-upgrade) - [Usage](#usage) - [Long-term Support (LTS)](#long-term-support-lts) - [Migrating Global Packages](#migrating-global-packages) - [Default Global Packages](#default-global-packages) - [Using System Node Version](#using-system-node-version) - [Listing Versions](#listing-versions) - [Customizing Colors](#customizing-colors) - [Restoring PATH](#restoring-path) - [Setting Default Node Version](#setting-default-node-version) - [Using Node Binary Mirrors](#using-node-binary-mirrors) - [Working with .nvmrc Files](#working-with-nvmrc-files) - [Advanced Shell Integration](#advanced-shell-integration) - [Running Tests](#running-tests) - [Environment Variables](#environment-variables) - [Bash Completion](#bash-completion) - [Compatibility Issues](#compatibility-issues) - [Installing on Alpine Linux](#installing-on-alpine-linux) - [Uninstalling NVM](#uninstalling-nvm) - [Using Docker for Development](#using-docker-for-development) - [Troubleshooting](#troubleshooting) - [macOS Troubleshooting](#macos-troubleshooting) - [WSL Troubleshooting](#wsl-troubleshooting) - [Maintainers](#maintainers) - [Project Support](#project-support) - [Enterprise Support](#enterprise-support) - [License](#license) - [Copyright Notice](#copyright-notice) --- ## Introduction NVM simplifies the process of managing Node.js versions, making it an indispensable tool for developers working on varied projects. With just a few commands, you can install, switch, and manage Node.js versions effortlessly. **Example Usage:** ```sh nvm use 16 # Now using node v16.9.1 (npm v7.21.1) node -v # v16.9.1 nvm use 14 # Now using node v14.18.0 (npm v6.14.15) node -v # v14.18.0 nvm install 12 # Now using node v12.22.6 (npm v6.14.5) node -v # v12.22.6 ``` --- ## About NVM NVM is a version manager for [Node.js](https://nodejs.org/en/), designed to be installed per-user and invoked per-shell. It works on any POSIX-compliant shell (sh, dash, ksh, zsh, bash) and supports platforms like Unix, macOS, and [Windows WSL](https://github.com/nvm-sh/nvm#important-notes). --- ## Installation and Updates ### Install & Update Script To **install** or **update** NVM, run the following script using either `curl` or `wget`: ```sh curl -o- https://raw.githubusercontent.com/nvm-sh/nvm/v0.40.2/install.sh | bash ``` ```sh wget -qO- https://raw.githubusercontent.com/nvm-sh/nvm/v0.40.2/install.sh | bash ``` This script clones the NVM repository to `~/.nvm` and updates your shell profile to load NVM automatically. If the script updates the wrong profile file, set the `$PROFILE` environment variable to the correct file path and rerun the script. --- For more details, refer to the [full documentation](#table-of-contents). ---