NPM-PREFIX(1) NPM-PREFIX(1)

# [NAME](#NAME)

**npm-prefix** - Display prefix

## [Synopsis](#Synopsis)

```
npm prefix
```

Note: This command is unaware of workspaces.

## [Description](#Description)

Print the local prefix to standard output. This is the closest parent directory to contain a **package.json** file or **node\_modules** directory, unless **-g** is also specified.

If **-g** is specified, this will be the value of the global prefix. See npm help config for more detail.

## [Example](#Example)

```
npm prefix
/usr/local/projects/foo
```

```
npm prefix -g
/usr/local
```

## [Configuration](#Configuration)

## **global**

- Default: false
- Type: Boolean

Operates in "global" mode, so that packages are installed into the **prefix** folder instead of the current working directory. See npm help folders for more on the differences in behavior.

- packages are installed into the **{prefix}/lib/node\_modules** folder, instead of the current working directory.
- bin files are linked to **{prefix}/bin**
- man pages are linked to **{prefix}/share/man**

## [See Also](#See_Also)

- npm help root
- npm help folders
- npm help config
- npm help npmrc

September 2026 NPM@12.1.0

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Document: npm-prefix(1) from npm-12 12.1.0-r1 (Chainguard OS)
Source: https://github.com/npm/cli