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JavaScript npm Basics (retiring) Updating and Uninstalling Packages with npm Updating Packages with npm

Posted by Nicholas Smay
Nicholas Smay
14,768 Points

package-lock.json created when updating packages

Anyone know why this file would be created each time I run npm update? Also, I noticed this file is created whenever I run "npm install [filename] --save"

Thanks for your help!

1 Answer

Mikis Woodwinter
Mikis Woodwinter
44,940 Points
Mikis Woodwinter
Mikis Woodwinter
44,940 Points

Hey Nicholas,

The purpose of that lock-file is to protect your dependencies from change. In that sense, it's like package.json but more robust in its documentation of your dependencies. You can still consider your package.json as your source-of-truth, however, since the contents of package.json will override the lock-file. By default, npm (v5+) will create a lock-file every time you run npm install.

Read more here: npm docs Medium article

Nicholas Smay
Nicholas Smay
14,768 Points

Much appreciated! That makes sense. I'll take a look at those articles.

Cheers!