🌐
Node.js
nodejs.org › en
Node.js
Get Node.js®Get Node.js®Get security support for EOL Node.js versions
Blog
Node.js® is a free, open-source, cross-platform JavaScript runtime environment that lets developers create servers, web apps, command line tools and scripts.
About
Node.js® is a free, open-source, cross-platform JavaScript runtime environment that lets developers create servers, web apps, command line tools and scripts.
Download
BashCopy to clipboard and their installation scripts are not maintained by the Node.js project. If you encounter any issues please visit 's website ... Read the changelog or blog post for this version.
Node.js
# download and install Node.js (you may need to restart the terminal) nvm install 22 # verifies the right Node.js version is in the environment node -v # should print "v22.12.0" # verifies the right npm version is in the environment npm -v # should print "10.9.0"

JavaScript runtime environment

Node.js is a cross-platform, open-source JavaScript runtime environment that can run on Windows, Linux, Unix, macOS, and more. Node.js runs on the V8 JavaScript engine, and executes JavaScript code outside a web … Wikipedia
Factsheet
Original author Ryan Dahl
Initial release May 27, 2009; 16 years ago (2009-05-27)
Factsheet
Original author Ryan Dahl
Initial release May 27, 2009; 16 years ago (2009-05-27)
Discussions

What version of node do you use?
I feel like Node 20 is missing as an option. Regardless, it depends on the context. For my personal projects, I tend to go with current (20 right now). For everything else, whichever is the LTS (18 right now). More on reddit.com
🌐 r/node
41
0
September 29, 2023
Node js 14 vs current version
There is not a lot of differences between that version and the current version. So for a course it doesn't really matter. BUT if you are building a project, following tutorials, I highly suggest to not use node 14 (meaning on your local machine), and use the latest LTS (v22 as of this writing). It shouldn't really matter with the course. Several reasons: * some libraries don't work anymore with node 14 * because of the libraries it will be harder to migrate back to node 22 if you start your project on node 14 * node 14 doesn't have any more support, meaning if a hacker finds a vulnerability on node 14, node won't patch it, and your project will be vulnerable * performance is much better on node 22 More on reddit.com
🌐 r/node
24
15
March 21, 2025
NODE_VERSION env variable ignored?
I’m trying to deploy a website on Cloudflare pages that requires node JS >=14. I read in the docs that I can set the NODE_VERSION env variable to choose a NodeJS version. However, whatever value I try, somehow Cloudflare pages still uses the default Node JS 12.18.0 version… More on community.cloudflare.com
🌐 community.cloudflare.com
1
April 17, 2023
node.js - What uses / respects the .node-version file? - Stack Overflow
I've searched Stack Overflow and GitHub (for both node and nvm) for an answer, but to no avail. In some repos (like GitHub's Atom text editor, for instance), I've come across a .node-version file.... More on stackoverflow.com
🌐 stackoverflow.com
People also ask

How can I check my npm version along with Node?
Simply enter npm -v in Command Prompt or PowerShell to see the npm version installed.
🌐
smart.dhgate.com
smart.dhgate.com › home › how to easily verify your node.js version on windows using command line tools
How to Easily Verify Your Node.js Version on Windows Using Command ...
Why does my Node.js version not change after upgrading?
You might be running Command Prompt or PowerShell sessions opened before the update. Restarting them usually fixes this. Also, check if you have multiple Node installations conflicting.
🌐
smart.dhgate.com
smart.dhgate.com › home › how to easily verify your node.js version on windows using command line tools
How to Easily Verify Your Node.js Version on Windows Using Command ...
Can I have multiple versions of Node.js installed on the same Windows machine?
Absolutely! Using tools like nvm-windows, you can install and switch between different Node versions easily.
🌐
smart.dhgate.com
smart.dhgate.com › home › how to easily verify your node.js version on windows using command line tools
How to Easily Verify Your Node.js Version on Windows Using Command ...
🌐
endoflife.date
endoflife.date › nodejs
Node.js | endoflife.date
2 weeks ago - Major Node.js versions enter Current release status for six months, which gives library authors time to add support for them. After six months, odd-numbered releases (9, 11, etc.) become unsupported, and even-numbered releases (10, 12, etc.) move to Active LTS status and are ready for general use.
🌐
Render
render.com › docs › node-version
Setting Your Node.js Version – Render Docs
Always include an upper bound in your version range. An unbounded range (such as >=18) always resolves to the latest release of Node.js, which increments its major version over time.
Find elsewhere
🌐
npm
npmjs.com › package › node
node - npm
2 weeks ago - node. Latest version: 20.19.6, last published: 14 days ago. Start using node in your project by running `npm i node`. There are 1132 other projects in the npm registry using node.
      » npm install node
    
Published   Nov 26, 2025
Version   20.19.6
🌐
CodeGenes
codegenes.net › blog › how-can-i-update-node-js-and-npm-to-their-latest-versions
How to Update Node.js, NPM, and Node.js Modules to the Latest Versions Without Uninstalling — codegenes.net
3 days ago - For outdated modules (local or global), use npm outdated (local) or npm outdated -g (global) to see which packages have newer versions available. Node.js updates are released frequently (LTS versions every 6 months, with security updates for 30+ months).
🌐
GitHub
github.com › nvm-sh › nvm
GitHub - nvm-sh/nvm: Node Version Manager - POSIX-compliant bash script to manage multiple active node.js versions
Node Version Manager - POSIX-compliant bash script to manage multiple active node.js versions - nvm-sh/nvm
Starred by 90.3K users
Forked by 9.7K users
Languages   Shell 98.0% | Makefile 1.2%
🌐
Node.js
nodejs.org › en › about › previous-releases
Node.js — Node.js Releases
Commercial support for versions past the Maintenance LTS phase is available through our OpenJS Ecosystem Sustainability Program partners · Major Node.js versions enter Current release status for six months, which gives library authors time to add support for them.
🌐
Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org › wiki › Node
Node - Wikipedia
October 22, 2025 - Look up node in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. In general, a node is a localized swelling (a "knot") or a point of intersection (a vertex). ... Vertex (geometry), a point where two or more curves, lines, or edges meet. Node (autonomous system), behaviour for an ordinary differential equation ...
🌐
Heroku Dev Center
devcenter.heroku.com › articles › nodejs-support
Heroku Node.js Support Reference | Heroku Dev Center
You can also specify a minor range such as 24.11 or an exact version, like 24.11.0. Because Node does regular security releases on all supported major versions, we recommend specifying a major range to get security updates automatically, for example, 24.x.
🌐
Cloudflare Community
community.cloudflare.com › developers › cloudflare pages
NODE_VERSION env variable ignored? - Cloudflare Pages - Cloudflare Community
April 17, 2023 - I’m trying to deploy a website on Cloudflare pages that requires node JS >=14. I read in the docs that I can set the NODE_VERSION env variable to choose a NodeJS version. However, whatever value I try, somehow Cloudflare pages still uses the default Node JS 12.18.0 version…
🌐
GitHub
github.com › nodejs › Release
GitHub - nodejs/Release: Node.js Release Working Group
New semver-major releases of Node.js are branched from main every six months. New even-numbered versions are released in April and odd-numbered versions in October.
Starred by 4.2K users
Forked by 628 users
Languages   JavaScript
🌐
Medium
medium.com › @adambisek › how-to-check-minimum-required-node-js-version-4a78a8855a0f
How to check minimum required Node.Js version | by Adam Bisek | Medium
October 9, 2018 - { "name": "my package", "engines": { "node": ">=50.9" // intentionally so big version number }, "engineStrict": true }
🌐
Node-RED
nodered.org › docs › faq › node-versions
Supported Node versions : Node-RED
1 week ago - It is convenient when running Node-RED ... if you want to run Node-RED as a system-level service. This is because nvm uses scripts in a user’s profile to setup its environment. When running as a service, those scripts do not get used. If you change the version of Node.js you are using, ...
🌐
Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org › wiki › Node_(networking)
Node (networking) - Wikipedia
2 weeks ago - In networking, a node (Latin: nodus, 'knot') is either a redistribution point or a communication endpoint within telecommunication networks or computer networks. A physical network node is an electronic device that is attached to a network, and is capable of creating, receiving, or transmitting ...
Top answer
1 of 7
81

.node-version is a file read by various tools on an individual basis for specifying the target node version. Version managers which use/respect it include (in alphabetical order):

  • asdf-nodejs Node.js plugin for asdf version manager. (macOS, Linux)
  • avn Automatic Version Switching for Node. (macOS, Linux)
  • chnode Changes shell's current Node.js version by updating $PATH (macOS, Linux)
  • dev dev is built on pkgx, a single, standalone binary that can run anything (macOS, Linux)
  • direnv unclutter your .profile. (macOS, Linux)
  • fnm Fast and simple Node.js version manager, built in Rust. (macOS, Linux, Windows)
  • mise Polyglot switcher compatible with asdf plugins, built in Rust. (macOS, Linux)
  • n Interactively Manage Your Node.js Versions. (macOS, Linux)
  • nenv Groom your app’s Node environment with nenv (macOS, Linux)
  • nodeenv Virtual environment for Node.js & integrator with virtualenv (macOS, Linux, Windows)
  • nodenv Manage multiple NodeJS versions. (macOS, Linux)
  • nodist Natural node.js and npm version manager for windows. (Windows)
  • nve Run any command on specific Node.js versions (macOS, Linux, Windows)
  • nvm-rust A cross-platform node version manager that doesn't suck (macOS, Linux, Windows)
  • nvm.fish Node.js version manager lovingly made for Fish. (macOS, Linux)
  • nvs Node Version Switcher - A cross-platform tool for switching between versions and forks of Node.js. (macOS, Linux, Windows)
  • setup-node (configuration) Set up your GitHub Actions workflow with a specific version of node.js
  • vfox The Multiple SDK Version Manager

Other products which use .node-version include:

  • bitrise The CI/CD Platform built for Mobile DevOps
  • Cloudflare Pages Build fast sites. In record time.
  • Hostman Hosting platform that deploys your web applications
  • netlify Instantly build and deploy your sites to our global network from Git.
  • paketo Your app, in your favorite language, ready to run in the cloud
  • preferred-node-version Get the preferred Node.js version of a project or user
  • Pulumi Deployments Automate, Secure, and Manage Everything You Run in the Cloud
  • ReadyMage Magento 2 and PWA managed auto-scalable infrastructure hosting service.
  • render A Cloud for the New Decade
  • Spaceship Minimalistic, powerful and extremely customizable Zsh prompt
  • starship The minimal, blazing-fast, and infinitely customizable prompt for any shell!
  • typescript-action Create a TypeScript Action with tests, linting, workflow, publishing, and versioning
  • Vercel Conformance Conformance provides tools that run automated checks on your code for product critical issues, such as performance, security, and code health.
  • VMware Tanzu The Tanzu Node.js Buildpack supports several popular configurations for Node.js apps.

Note: nvm does not support reading a .node-version file.

I documented usage and some supported features here: https://github.com/shadowspawn/node-version-usage

2 of 7
49

There are a few version managers for node.js respecting .node-version file:

  • avn - Automatic Node Version Switching
  • nodenv - Yet another version managers
  • asdf - Extendable version manager with support for Ruby, Node.js, Elixir, Erlang & more, provided you configure it accordingly
  • nvs - Node Version Switcher

There may be some other version managers, but I'm not aware of them.

I don't know which particular version manager Atom uses. nodenv have more stars on GitHub, but avn looks more mature and better maintained for me, not to mention its compatibility with both n and nvm.