npm-exec

Run a command from a local or remote npm package

TLDR

Run a local package binary

$ npm exec [command]

Run a command with arguments

$ npm exec -- [command] [args]

Run a package from the registry

$ npm exec -p [package] -- [command]

Run a specific package version

$ npm exec -p [package]@[version] -- [command]

Run with multiple packages available

$ npm exec -p [pkg1] -p [pkg2] -- [command]

Run a shell command string in the package environment

$ npm exec -c '[shell_command]'

Auto-accept installation prompts for remote packages

$ npm exec -y -p [package] -- [command]

SYNOPSIS

npm exec [options] [-- command [args...]]

npm exec runs a command from a local or remote npm package. It is similar to npx but integrated directly into the npm CLI. The command can run locally installed packages or temporarily download and execute packages from the npm registry.The double dash (--) separates npm exec options from the command and its arguments. Without --, npm may interpret arguments as its own options. When run without positional arguments or --call, it opens an interactive shell with the package environment configured in the PATH.When --package is not specified, npm exec will try to determine the executable from the first positional argument, matching it against packages in the local project or the npm registry.

PARAMETERS

-p, --package pkg

Package to install (can be specified multiple times).

-c, --call cmd

Shell command string to run in the package environment.

-y, --yes

Skip confirmation prompts when downloading remote packages.

--no

Refuse to install packages not already available locally.

-w, --workspace name

Run in the context of the specified workspace.

--workspaces

Run in the context of all configured workspaces.

--include-workspace-root

Include the workspace root when using --workspaces.

INSTALL

sudo pacman -S npm

sudo apk add npm

brew install npm

CAVEATS

Unlike npx, npm exec requires -- before the command when passing arguments. May prompt for confirmation when downloading remote packages unless -y or --no is specified. The --call option runs the command in a shell, so shell syntax like pipes and redirects is supported.

HISTORY

npm exec was added in npm 7 as a built-in alternative to npx, providing similar functionality with better npm integration and workspace support.