how to install node js on ubuntu 25.04

Node.js is a powerful runtime for building modern web applications, APIs, and scalable server-side services. If you are using Ubuntu 25.04, installing Node.js correctly ensures you can run JavaScript applications efficiently.

Step 1: Update Your System

It is always best to start by updating your system. This prevents package conflicts and ensures that you install Node.js in a stable and up-to-date environment:

sudo apt update
sudo apt upgrade -y

Step 2: Add the NodeSource Repository

The default Ubuntu repositories may not provide the latest Node.js version. To get the current stable release, use the official NodeSource repository:

curl -fsSL https://deb.nodesource.com/setup_20.x | sudo -E bash -
sudo apt install -y nodejs

This installs both Node.js and npm at once.

Step 3: Verify Node.js and npm

After installation, check that Node.js and npm are working properly by confirming their versions:

node -v
npm -v

If you see version numbers, the installation was successful.

Step 4: Install Build Tools (Optional)

Some npm packages need to be compiled from source. To avoid errors during installation of such packages, it’s recommended to install essential build tools:

sudo apt install -y build-essential

Now Node.js and npm are fully installed on Ubuntu 25.04, ready for building and deploying modern JavaScript applications.