How to Update Node.js on macOS

Hey there! Updating Node.js on your Mac is fairly straightforward, and there are a few methods you can use. Here’s a step-by-step guide for two popular options: using Homebrew and using nvm (Node Version Manager).

Method 1: Using Homebrew

1. First, open your Terminal.
2. Check if Homebrew is installed by running: brew -v. If you don’t have Homebrew, you can install it by running the following command:

/bin/bash -c "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/HEAD/install.sh)"

3. Once Homebrew is installed, you can update it by running:

brew update

4. To install the latest version of Node.js, run:

brew install node

5. If you already have Node.js installed via Homebrew and want to update it, simply run:

brew upgrade node

6. Verify the installation by checking the Node.js version:

node -v

Method 2: Using nvm (Node Version Manager)

1. Open your Terminal.
2. First, check if nvm is installed by running: nvm --version. If it’s not installed, you can install it by running:

curl -o- https://raw.githubusercontent.com/nvm-sh/nvm/v0.39.1/install.sh | bash

3. Load nvm by running the following command (you might need to restart your terminal or add this to your shell configuration file):

export NVM_DIR="$HOME/.nvm"
        [ -s "$NVM_DIR/nvm.sh" ] && \. "$NVM_DIR/nvm.sh"

4. Now, to install the latest version of Node.js using nvm, run:

nvm install node

5. To set the newly installed version as the default, run:

nvm alias default node

6. Check the installed version by running:

node -v

Both methods work well, so you can choose whichever you prefer. Homebrew is great for a straightforward installation, while nvm allows you to manage multiple Node.js versions easily. Let me know if you have any questions, and happy coding!

Updating Node.js on macOS can be done smoothly using either Homebrew or NVM (Node Version Manager), both of which are widely adopted methods among developers. If you prefer Homebrew, which is a package manager for macOS, you can simply run the following commands in your terminal. First, make sure your Homebrew is updated by executing brew update. Then, to upgrade Node.js to the latest version, use brew upgrade node. This will ensure that you fetch the most recent stable version available. Alternatively, if you’re using NVM, updating Node.js is a bit more flexible. You can check for the latest LTS (Long Term Support) version by running nvm ls-remote, and then install the desired version with nvm install . After installation, switch to the newly installed version using nvm use .

Regardless of the method you choose, it’s a good practice to verify the Node.js version after the update by executing node -v in your terminal. This will confirm that the upgrade was successful. Additionally, keeping your Node.js updated not only enhances performance and security but also provides access to the latest features and improvements that come with each release. As a tip, if you’re working on multiple projects that may require different versions of Node.js, NVM is particularly useful for managing these versions without conflicts. Consider implementing one of these methods based on your workflow requirements, and you’ll be set with an up-to-date Node.js environment on your Mac!