How to Upgrade Node.js on Ubuntu to the Latest or Stable Version

Node.js is a popular runtime environment for executing JavaScript code server-side. It’s important to keep Node.js up to date to ensure you have access to the latest features, improvements, and security patches. In this blog post, we will guide you through the process of upgrading Node.js on Ubuntu to either the latest or stable version.

To begin the upgrade process, open your terminal and enter the following command:

sudo npm cache clean -f

This command will clear the npm cache, ensuring a clean installation without any potential conflicts or issues.

After clearing the npm cache, we need to install the n package globally. n is a helpful tool that allows us to manage multiple versions of Node.js effortlessly. Execute the following command to install n:

sudo npm install -g n

By installing n, we gain the ability to switch between different Node.js versions seamlessly.

Now that we have n installed, it’s time to upgrade Node.js to the stable version. Use the following command:

sudo n stable

This command will download and install the latest stable version of Node.js available. It will replace your current version with the stable release.

If you prefer to upgrade to the latest version of Node.js instead of the stable release, you can use the following command:

sudo n latest

Executing this command will download and install the most recent Node.js version, regardless of whether it’s the stable release or a more recent development version.

Regularly upgrading Node.js is crucial to ensure optimal performance, security, and access to the latest features.