As npm has released the v7.4, npm 5 became the default package manager for Node.js. Facebook has also released their own package manager solution “Yarn”. In this article we are going to describe what these package managers offer and which node package is best.

we're talking about npm and yarn, which are like handy tools for computer geeks (that's us!) when they're building cool stuff. We'll break down the npm vs yarn debate and share how these tools help local IT companies and startups. We want to help you make smart choices for your projects!

Similarities Between Yarn and NPM

Yarn and NPM have several common features:

1. Both Yarn and NPM automatically generate a version lock file that keeps track of the exact list of dependencies used for the project.
2. Both Yarn and NPM offer the option of saving dependencies in offline cache allowing you to install dependencies even if you’re offline.
3. Yarn and NPM both support workspaces, allowing you to manage dependencies for numerous projects from a single repository.
4. Using the npx command in NPM and the yarn dlx command in Yarn, you can run scripts remotely in both managers.

Differences Between Yarn and NPM

Let us now discuss the differences between Yarn and NPM.

Yarn	NPM
It uses the yarn add command to install dependencies.	It uses the npm install command to install dependencies.
It installs dependencies in parallel.	It installs dependencies sequentially.
The version lock file is known as yarn.lock.	The version lock file is known as package-lock.json.
It verifies packages using checksum.	It verifies using the SHA-512 stored in the package-lock.json file.

Which One is Better – NPM or Yarn?

NPM is preferred by developers who are used to the workflow of the older versions and happy with the current workflow. It offers a decent user experience while also saving hard drive space. Yarn, on the other hand, has advanced features such as Plug’n’Play and Zero-Install to offer that improves performance and security marginally but at the cost of hard disk space.

While NPM was the first to be introduced, Yarn has rapidly gained popularity in the JavaScript community. It took a lot of cues from NPM, especially overcoming its flaws, to create a package management tool that developers would love. Similarly, NPM has continued to counter with each new release, improving its capabilities to satisfy the needs of developers.

Ultimately, it’s your choice to choose one between them. If you are satisfied with the current workflow, go for NPM. If you want more advanced features, go for Yarn.