npm engines field — require specific Node.js version

Quick Answer

// package.json
{
  "engines": {
    "node": ">=20.0.0",
    "npm":  ">=9.0.0"
  }
}

# By default this is advisory. To enforce it:
# .npmrc
engine-strict=true

When this happens

npm warn EBADENGINE Unsupported engine {
  package: 'my-app@1.0.0',
  required: { node: '>=20.0.0' },
  current: { node: 'v18.12.0', npm: '8.19.2' }
}

The installed Node.js version does not satisfy the engines requirement in package.json.

Other causes & fixes

Enforce engines (blocks install on wrong version)

# .npmrc
engine-strict=true

# Now npm install will fail if Node.js version is incompatible

Use .nvmrc to pin the Node.js version

# .nvmrc
20.15.0

# Switch to the project version automatically
nvm use        # reads .nvmrc
nvm install    # installs if not present

Use Volta to manage Node.js per project

# Pin Node.js version with Volta (auto-switches)
volta pin node@20
volta pin npm@10

# This adds to package.json:
# "volta": { "node": "20.x.x", "npm": "10.x.x" }