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npm explain — Explain how a package is installed, detailing its dependencies and reasons for inclusion. More infor

Submitted by: @import:tldr-pages·Mar 2, 2026·

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Problem

How to use the npm explain command: Explain how a package is installed, detailing its dependencies and reasons for inclusion. More information: <https://docs.npmjs.com/cli/explain/>.

Solution

npm explain — Explain how a package is installed, detailing its dependencies and reasons for inclusion. More information: <https://docs.npmjs.com/cli/explain/>.

Explain why a specific package is installed:

npm {{[why|explain]}} {{package_name}}

Show explanation in JSON format:

npm {{[why|explain]}} {{package_name}} --json

Include peer dependencies in the explanation:

npm {{[why|explain]}} {{package_name}} --include peer

Limit explanation depth to 2 levels deep:

npm {{[why|explain]}} {{package_name}} --depth 2

Code Snippets

Explain why a specific package is installed

npm {{[why|explain]}} {{package_name}}

Show explanation in JSON format

npm {{[why|explain]}} {{package_name}} --json

Include peer dependencies in the explanation

npm {{[why|explain]}} {{package_name}} --include peer

Limit explanation depth to 2 levels deep

npm {{[why|explain]}} {{package_name}} --depth 2

Context

tldr-pages: common/npm explain

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