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Explain the purpose of `package.json` and `npm`.

Q: Explain the purpose of `package.json` and `npm`.

**TL;DR.** package.json is your project's **manifest** — name, version, entry point, **scripts**, and **dependencies**. **npm** (Node Package Manager) is the CLI + registry that reads that manifest to **install, run, and publish** packages. Together they make Node projects reproducible and shareable. package.json deps + scripts metadata npm install <text class='d-text

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Fundamental to any Node.js project, this checks basic tooling knowledge.

npmpackage.jsondependenciestooling

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A minimal manifest + script

{
  "name": "my-api",
  "version": "1.0.0",
  "type": "module",
  "main": "src/index.js",
  "scripts": {
    "start": "node src/index.js",
    "dev": "node --watch src/index.js"
  },
  "dependencies": { "express": "^4.19.0" }
}
// npm install → installs express; npm run dev → runs with auto-restart

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