pnpm

aid: pnpm
url: https://raw.githubusercontent.com/api-evangelist/pnpm/refs/heads/main/apis.yml
apis:
- aid: pnpm:pnpm-cli
  name: pnpm CLI
  tags:
  - CLI
  - Node.js
  - Package Manager
  - Dependency Management
  humanURL: https://pnpm.io/pnpm-cli
  properties:
  - url: https://pnpm.io/pnpm-cli
    type: Documentation
  - url: https://pnpm.io/cli/install
    name: pnpm install
    type: Documentation
  - url: https://pnpm.io/cli/add
    name: pnpm add
    type: Documentation
  - url: https://pnpm.io/cli/update
    name: pnpm update
    type: Documentation
  - url: https://pnpm.io/cli/remove
    name: pnpm remove
    type: Documentation
  - url: https://pnpm.io/cli/run
    name: pnpm run
    type: Documentation
  - url: https://pnpm.io/cli/exec
    name: pnpm exec
    type: Documentation
  - url: https://pnpm.io/cli/dlx
    name: pnpm dlx (pnx)
    type: Documentation
  - url: https://pnpm.io/cli/publish
    name: pnpm publish
    type: Documentation
  - url: https://pnpm.io/cli/audit
    name: pnpm audit
    type: Documentation
  - url: https://pnpm.io/cli/store
    name: pnpm store
    type: Documentation
  - url: https://pnpm.io/cli/list
    name: pnpm list
    type: Documentation
  - url: https://pnpm.io/cli/why
    name: pnpm why
    type: Documentation
  - url: https://pnpm.io/cli/outdated
    name: pnpm outdated
    type: Documentation
  - url: https://pnpm.io/cli/patch
    name: pnpm patch
    type: Documentation
  description: The pnpm command-line interface for managing JavaScript/Node.js packages. Provides commands for
    installing, updating, and removing dependencies; running package scripts; executing one-off packages via
    pnx (formerly dlx); publishing to registries; auditing for vulnerabilities; managing the content-addressable
    store; inspecting the dependency graph; and patching installed packages. As of pnpm 11, `pn` is a shorthand
    for `pnpm` and `pnx` replaces `pnpm dlx`.
- aid: pnpm:pnpm-workspaces
  name: pnpm Workspaces
  tags:
  - Monorepo
  - Node.js
  - Package Manager
  - Workspaces
  humanURL: https://pnpm.io/workspaces
  properties:
  - url: https://pnpm.io/workspaces
    type: Documentation
  - url: https://pnpm.io/pnpm-workspace_yaml
    name: pnpm-workspace.yaml reference
    type: Documentation
  - url: https://pnpm.io/catalogs
    name: Catalogs
    type: Documentation
  - url: https://pnpm.io/filtering
    name: Filtering
    type: Documentation
  - url: https://pnpm.io/cli/recursive
    name: pnpm recursive (-r)
    type: Documentation
  description: Native monorepo support driven by a `pnpm-workspace.yaml` file at the repository root. Supports
    the `workspace:` protocol for explicit local package references, a shared workspace lockfile, package
    filtering via `--filter`, recursive commands across all workspace packages, and Catalogs for centralized
    dependency version management across a monorepo. Integrates with Changesets and Rush for multi-package
    releases.
- aid: pnpm:pnpm-store
  name: pnpm Content-Addressable Store
  tags:
  - Storage
  - Node.js
  - Package Manager
  - Cache
  humanURL: https://pnpm.io/symlinked-node-modules-structure
  properties:
  - url: https://pnpm.io/symlinked-node-modules-structure
    name: Symlinked node_modules structure
    type: Documentation
  - url: https://pnpm.io/motivation
    name: Motivation
    type: Documentation
  - url: https://pnpm.io/cli/store
    name: pnpm store CLI
    type: Documentation
  - url: https://pnpm.io/npmrc#store-dir
    name: store-dir config
    type: Documentation
  description: A content-addressable store that holds every version of every package exactly once on disk and
    hard-links (or reflinks) files into project `node_modules`. This produces a strict, non-flat dependency
    layout where packages can only access their declared dependencies, and saves significant disk space across
    projects on the same machine. Includes commands to inspect, prune, verify, and configure the store.
- aid: pnpm:pnpm-hooks
  name: pnpm Hooks
  tags:
  - Hooks
  - Extension
  - Node.js
  - Package Manager
  humanURL: https://pnpm.io/pnpmfile
  properties:
  - url: https://pnpm.io/pnpmfile
    name: .pnpmfile.cjs
    type: Documentation
  - url: https://pnpm.io/package_json#pnpmoverrides
    name: pnpm.overrides
    type: Documentation
  - url: https://pnpm.io/package_json#pnpmpackageextensions
    name: pnpm.packageExtensions
    type: Documentation
  - url: https://pnpm.io/package_json#pnpmpatcheddependencies
    name: pnpm.patchedDependencies
    type: Documentation
  description: Programmatic extension points for customizing dependency resolution and installation behavior.
    `.pnpmfile.cjs` exposes lifecycle hooks (`readPackage`, `afterAllResolved`) that let projects rewrite
    package manifests before installation. The `pnpm` block in `package.json` adds `overrides`,
    `packageExtensions`, `patchedDependencies`, `peerDependencyRules`, and `neverBuiltDependencies` for
    fine-grained dependency control without forking packages.
- aid: pnpm:pnpm-config
  name: pnpm Configuration
  tags:
  - Configuration
  - Node.js
  - Package Manager
  humanURL: https://pnpm.io/npmrc
  properties:
  - url: https://pnpm.io/npmrc
    name: .npmrc
    type: Documentation
  - url: https://pnpm.io/package_json
    name: package.json pnpm fields
    type: Documentation
  - url: https://pnpm.io/cli/config
    name: pnpm config CLI
    type: Documentation
  - url: https://pnpm.io/settings
    name: Settings
    type: Documentation
  description: Configuration surface for pnpm spanning `.npmrc`, environment variables, and `pnpm`-prefixed
    fields in `package.json`. Controls registry selection, authentication tokens, store location, hoisting
    behavior, lockfile settings, lifecycle script policy (including the supply-chain safety settings such as
    `minimumReleaseAge` and `ignoredBuiltDependencies`), peer dependency rules, and workspace behavior.
name: pnpm
tags:
- Node.js
- Package Manager
- Monorepo
- JavaScript
- Open Source
- Developer Tools
- Dependency Management
- CLI
kind: contract
image: https://kinlane-productions2.s3.amazonaws.com/apis-json/apis-json-logo.jpg
access: 3rd-Party
common:
- url: https://pnpm.io
  name: pnpm Website
  type: Portal
- url: https://pnpm.io/installation
  name: Installation
  type: GettingStarted
- url: https://pnpm.io/motivation
  name: Motivation
  type: Documentation
- url: https://pnpm.io/pnpm-cli
  name: pnpm CLI Reference
  type: Documentation
- url: https://github.com/pnpm/pnpm
  name: pnpm on GitHub
  type: GitHubRepository
- url: https://github.com/pnpm
  name: pnpm GitHub Organization
  type: GitHubOrganization
- url: https://github.com/pnpm/pnpm/releases
  name: pnpm Releases
  type: ReleaseNotes
- url: https://github.com/pnpm/pnpm/blob/main/LICENSE
  name: MIT License
  type: Legal
- url: https://github.com/pnpm/pnpm/blob/main/CHANGELOG.md
  name: Changelog
  type: ChangeLog
- url: https://github.com/pnpm/pnpm/issues
  name: Issues
  type: Support
- url: https://github.com/pnpm/pnpm/discussions
  name: GitHub Discussions
  type: Support
- url: https://chat.pnpm.io/
  name: pnpm Discord
  type: Contact
- url: https://x.com/pnpmjs
  name: pnpm on X
  type: X
- url: https://bsky.app/profile/pnpm.io
  name: pnpm on Bluesky
  type: Contact
- url: https://www.youtube.com/@pnpmjs
  name: pnpm on YouTube
  type: YouTube
- url: https://stackoverflow.com/questions/tagged/pnpm
  name: pnpm on Stack Overflow
  type: StackOverflow
- url: https://www.npmjs.com/package/pnpm
  name: pnpm on npm
  type: SDK
- url: https://www.npmjs.com/package/@pnpm/exe
  name: '@pnpm/exe (bundled executable)'
  type: SDK
- url: https://github.com/pnpm/action-setup
  name: pnpm/action-setup (GitHub Action)
  type: Integrations
- url: https://github.com/pnpm/setup
  name: pnpm/setup (multi-runtime GitHub Action)
  type: Integrations
- url: https://github.com/pnpm/exec
  name: pnpm/exec
  type: Integrations
- url: https://opencollective.com/pnpm
  name: pnpm on Open Collective
  type: Pricing
- url: https://github.com/sponsors/pnpm
  name: GitHub Sponsors
  type: Pricing
- url: https://pnpm.io/blog
  name: pnpm Blog
  type: Blog
- url: https://pnpm.io/feature-comparison
  name: Feature comparison vs npm/Yarn
  type: Documentation
- url: https://pnpm.io/benchmarks
  name: Benchmarks
  type: Documentation
- url: https://pnpm.io/faq
  name: FAQ
  type: FAQ
- url: https://pnpm.io/uses
  name: Who uses pnpm
  type: Showcase
- url: https://github.com/pnpm/rfcs
  name: pnpm RFCs
  type: Documentation
- type: Features
  data:
  - name: Content-addressable store
    description: Each package version is stored once on disk and hard-linked into projects, saving substantial
      disk space across all projects on the machine.
  - name: Strict, non-flat node_modules
    description: A symlinked node_modules layout means packages can only access dependencies they explicitly
      declare, catching phantom-dependency bugs at install time.
  - name: Up to 2x faster installs
    description: Optimized installation pipeline that is consistently faster than npm and Yarn on cold and
      warm installs, especially for large monorepos.
  - name: Native workspace and monorepo support
    description: First-class workspaces driven by pnpm-workspace.yaml with the workspace protocol, recursive
      commands, package filtering, and Catalogs for shared version pinning.
  - name: Catalogs
    description: Centralized dependency-version management across a monorepo so every package shares a single
      pinned version of common dependencies.
  - name: Deterministic lockfile
    description: pnpm-lock.yaml captures the exact resolved dependency graph, peer relationships, and patches
      for reproducible installs.
  - name: Supply-chain safety controls
    description: minimumReleaseAge to delay adoption of brand-new package versions, ignoredBuiltDependencies
      and onlyBuiltDependencies to opt into lifecycle scripts, and removal of postinstall scripts by default.
  - name: pnpm patch
    description: Built-in workflow to patch installed dependencies and persist the patch in
      pnpm.patchedDependencies without forking the package.
  - name: pnpm overrides and packageExtensions
    description: Repository-level dependency rewriting and peer-dependency repair without forking upstream
      packages.
  - name: .pnpmfile.cjs hooks
    description: readPackage and afterAllResolved hooks let you programmatically rewrite manifests during
      resolution and installation.
  - name: pnx (dlx) and pnpm exec
    description: Run packages without installing them globally, with caching in the store.
  - name: Built-in runtime management
    description: pnpm env install lets you manage Node.js (and other JavaScript runtime) versions directly
      through pnpm.
  - name: Cross-platform standalone binary
    description: Distributed as @pnpm/exe, a single self-contained executable that does not require an
      existing Node.js installation.
  - name: Corepack-compatible
    description: First-class support for Node.js Corepack so projects can pin a specific pnpm version via
      packageManager in package.json.
  - name: MIT-licensed open source
    description: Permissively licensed and developed in the open on GitHub with an Open Collective sponsorship
      model.
  sources:
  - https://pnpm.io
  - https://pnpm.io/motivation
  - https://pnpm.io/feature-comparison
  - https://github.com/pnpm/pnpm
  updated: '2026-05-25'
- type: UseCases
  data:
  - name: Large JavaScript monorepos
    description: Manage hundreds of interdependent packages with a single shared lockfile, the workspace
      protocol, Catalogs, and recursive commands.
  - name: CI/CD pipeline acceleration
    description: Cut install time substantially in CI by leveraging the content-addressable store and the
      official pnpm/action-setup GitHub Action.
  - name: Disk-constrained developer machines
    description: Share a single copy of each package version across every project on a machine, dramatically
      reducing disk usage compared to npm or Yarn.
  - name: Supply-chain hardening
    description: Use minimumReleaseAge, ignoredBuiltDependencies, and strict lifecycle script policy to
      reduce exposure to malicious or compromised npm packages.
  - name: Phantom dependency detection
    description: The strict non-flat node_modules layout surfaces undeclared dependencies during local
      development rather than in production.
  - name: Reproducible builds
    description: pnpm-lock.yaml plus pnpm.overrides and pnpm.patchedDependencies make installations
      byte-reproducible across machines.
  - name: Multi-runtime JavaScript projects
    description: Use the pnpm/setup action and pnpm env to standardize Node.js, Bun, or Deno versions across
      teams.
  sources:
  - https://pnpm.io/motivation
  - https://pnpm.io/workspaces
  - https://pnpm.io/feature-comparison
  updated: '2026-05-25'
- type: Integrations
  data:
  - name: Node.js Corepack
    description: pnpm is one of the package managers managed by Corepack, enabling version pinning via
      packageManager in package.json.
  - name: GitHub Actions
    description: Official pnpm/action-setup and pnpm/setup actions for installing pnpm and a JavaScript
      runtime in a single step.
  - name: Changesets
    description: Recommended workflow tool for versioning and publishing packages in pnpm monorepos.
  - name: Microsoft Rush
    description: Rush uses pnpm under the hood for large monorepos at Microsoft and elsewhere.
  - name: Nx
    description: Nx integrates with pnpm workspaces for monorepo task orchestration and caching.
  - name: Turbo (Turborepo)
    description: First-class pnpm workspace support for incremental builds and remote caching.
  - name: Docker
    description: Official guidance for using pnpm in Docker images, including the standalone binary and
      lockfile-aware multi-stage builds.
  - name: Verdaccio and private registries
    description: Works with any npm-compatible registry including Verdaccio, JFrog Artifactory, GitHub
      Packages, and AWS CodeArtifact.
  - name: Bit
    description: Bit Cloud (a Platinum sponsor) uses pnpm as a foundation for component-based development.
  - name: Vercel, Netlify, Cloudflare Pages
    description: First-class support for pnpm in major JavaScript deployment platforms with workspace-aware
      installs.
  sources:
  - https://pnpm.io
  - https://pnpm.io/continuous-integration
  - https://github.com/pnpm
  updated: '2026-05-25'
created: '2026-05-25'
modified: '2026-05-25'
position: Consuming
description: pnpm is a fast, disk space efficient package manager for JavaScript and Node.js projects. It uses
  a content-addressable store and a strict, symlinked node_modules layout so every version of every package
  is stored exactly once on disk and projects can only access dependencies they explicitly declare. pnpm
  provides first-class monorepo support via pnpm-workspace.yaml, the workspace protocol, Catalogs, package
  filtering, and a shared lockfile, and ships supply-chain safety features such as minimumReleaseAge, opt-in
  lifecycle scripts, dependency overrides, and a built-in patch workflow. Developed in the open under the MIT
  license on GitHub with an Open Collective sponsorship model, pnpm is used by major JavaScript projects
  including Next.js, Vue, Vite, Nuxt, Material UI, Prisma, Astro, and SvelteKit.
maintainers:
- FN: Kin Lane
  email: [email protected]
  X: apievangelist
  url: https://apievangelist.com
specificationVersion: '0.16'