Node.js is a platform built on Chrome’s JavaScript runtime for easily building fast, scalable network applications. Latest version node.js ppa is maintaining by its official website. We can add this PPA to Ubuntu 16.04 LTS (Trusty Tahr) and 14.04 LTS (Xenial Xerus) Systems and install node.js with few easy commands.

Step 1: Add NodeJs PPA

First you need to node.js ppa in our system provide by nodejs official website. We also need to install python-software-properties package if not installed already.

$ sudo apt-get install python-software-properties
$ curl -sL https://deb.nodesource.com/setup_7.x | sudo -E bash -

Step 2: Install Node.js and NPM

After adding required PPA file, lets install Nodejs package. NPM will also be installed with node.js. This command will also install many other dependent packages on your system.

$ sudo apt-get install nodejs

Step 3: Check Node.js and NPM Version

After installing node.js verify and check the installed version. You can find more details about current version on node.js official website.

$ node -v 

v7.3.0

Also check the version of npm.

$ npm -v 

3.10.10

Step 4: Create Demo Web Server (Optional)

This is an optional step. If you want to test your node.js install. Lets create an web server with “Hello World!” text. Create a file http_server.js

$ vim http_server.js

and add following content

var http = require('http');
http.createServer(function (req, res) {
  res.writeHead(200, {'Content-Type': 'text/plain'});
  res.end('Hello World\n');
}).listen(3001, "127.0.0.1");
console.log('Server running at http://127.0.0.1:3001/');

Now start the web server using below command.

$ node --debug http_server.js

debugger listening on port 5858
Server running at http://127.0.0.1:3001/