How to tell if node.js is installed or not

I've recently installed node.js and I have no idea how to run applications. I installed node.js but couldn't find further instructions. What does one really need to do? I wanted to see if it was actually working. So I executed a script called hello.js. It went as such:

console.log('hello world'); 

Now where would this be logged to?

Edit

I'm running this .js through a .php script.

7 Answers

Open a terminal window. Type:

node -v 

This will display your nodejs version.

Navigate to where you saved your script and input:

node script.js 

This will run your script.

open a terminal and enter

node -v 

this will tell you the version of the nodejs installed, then run nodejs simple by entering

node 

Prompt must be change. Enter following,

function testNode() {return "Node is working"}; testNode(); 

command line must prompt the following output if the installation was successful

'Node is working' 

Please try this command node --version or node -v, either of which should return something like v4.4.5.

(This is for windows OS but concept can be applied to other OS)

Running command node -v will be able to confirm if it is installed, however it will not be able to confirm if it is NOT installed. (Executable may not be on your PATH)

Two ways you can check if it is actually installed:

1. Check default install location C:\Program Files\nodejs\

or

2. Go to System Settings -> Add or Remove Programs and filter by node, it should show you if you have it installed. For me, it shows as title:"Node.js" and description "Node.js Foundation", with no version specified. Install size is 52.6MB

If you don't have it installed, get it from here

Check the node version by typing in your terminal

node -v 

Check the npm version by typing

npm -v 

If these commands give you the version numbers for node and npm you are good to go with NodeJs development

Time to test node

Create a Directory by running the command.

mkdir NodeJs 

Change your directory to the NodeJs folder and create a file

touch index.js 

Open your index.js either using vi or in your favorite text editor.

Type in

console.log('Welcome to NodesJs.') 

and save the file.

Navigate back to your saved file in the terminal and type

node index.js 

If you see Welcome to NodesJs. you did a nice job and you are up with NodeJs.

Ctrl + R - to open the command line and then writes:

node -v 

Open the command prompt in Windows or terminal in Linux and Mac.Type

node -v 

If node is install it will show its version.For eg.,

v6.9.5 

Else download it from nodejs.org