Yarn

aid: yarn-pkg
url: https://raw.githubusercontent.com/api-evangelist/yarn-pkg/refs/heads/main/apis.yml
apis:
- aid: yarn-pkg:yarn-cli
  name: Yarn CLI
  tags:
  - CLI
  - Package Manager
  - JavaScript
  - Node.js
  - Workspaces
  humanURL: https://yarnpkg.com/cli
  properties:
  - url: https://yarnpkg.com/cli
    type: Documentation
  - url: https://yarnpkg.com/getting-started/install
    type: GettingStarted
  - url: https://github.com/yarnpkg/berry/tree/master/packages/yarnpkg-cli
    type: SourceCode
  - url: https://github.com/yarnpkg/berry
    type: SourceCode
  - url: vocabulary/yarn-pkg-vocabulary.yml
    type: Vocabulary
  - url: json-ld/yarn-pkg-context.jsonld
    type: JSONLD
  description: The Yarn command-line interface — `yarn` — provides install, add, remove, up, run, exec, dlx, info,
    why, pack, rebuild, dedupe, node, bin, search, upgrade-interactive, and stage commands for managing JavaScript
    project dependencies and executing project scripts. Built on top of @yarnpkg/cli and the Clipanion command
    framework.
- aid: yarn-pkg:yarn-workspaces
  name: Yarn Workspaces
  tags:
  - Workspaces
  - Monorepo
  - JavaScript
  - Package Manager
  humanURL: https://yarnpkg.com/features/workspaces
  properties:
  - url: https://yarnpkg.com/features/workspaces
    type: Documentation
  - url: https://yarnpkg.com/cli/workspaces/foreach
    type: Documentation
  - url: https://github.com/yarnpkg/berry/tree/master/packages/plugin-workspace-tools
    type: SourceCode
  - url: json-schema/yarn-pkg-workspace-schema.json
    type: JSONSchema
  description: Yarn was the first package manager built specifically around workspaces. `yarn workspace`,
    `yarn workspaces foreach`, `yarn workspaces focus`, and `yarn workspaces list` provide first-class monorepo
    coordination — running commands inside a specific workspace, fanning out commands across all workspaces,
    installing a single workspace and its dependencies, and listing the workspace tree.
- aid: yarn-pkg:yarn-plug-n-play
  name: Yarn Plug'n'Play
  tags:
  - Plug'n'Play
  - PnP
  - Module Resolution
  - JavaScript
  humanURL: https://yarnpkg.com/features/pnp
  properties:
  - url: https://yarnpkg.com/features/pnp
    type: Documentation
  - url: https://github.com/yarnpkg/berry/tree/master/packages/yarnpkg-pnp
    type: SourceCode
  - url: https://github.com/yarnpkg/pnp-rs
    type: SourceCode
  description: Plug'n'Play (PnP) is Yarn's alternative to the traditional node_modules folder. Yarn generates a
    single `.pnp.cjs` file containing the exact dependency tree which Node.js consults at runtime via a require
    hook. PnP enables faster installs, deterministic module resolution, and strict boundaries between declared
    and undeclared dependencies. A Rust implementation (pnp-rs) is available for non-Node runtimes.
- aid: yarn-pkg:yarn-zero-installs
  name: Yarn Zero-Installs
  tags:
  - Zero-Installs
  - Reproducibility
  - JavaScript
  humanURL: https://yarnpkg.com/features/zero-installs
  properties:
  - url: https://yarnpkg.com/features/zero-installs
    type: Documentation
  description: Zero-Installs commit Yarn's package cache (`.yarn/cache`) into the repository alongside the
    `.pnp.cjs` file. Clones of the repository can start working immediately without running `yarn install`,
    enabling truly reproducible builds and instant CI bootstraps.
- aid: yarn-pkg:yarn-constraints
  name: Yarn Constraints
  tags:
  - Constraints
  - Policy
  - Prolog
  - JavaScript
  humanURL: https://yarnpkg.com/features/constraints
  properties:
  - url: https://yarnpkg.com/features/constraints
    type: Documentation
  - url: https://yarnpkg.com/cli/constraints
    type: Documentation
  - url: https://github.com/yarnpkg/berry/tree/master/packages/plugin-constraints
    type: SourceCode
  description: Yarn Constraints let you declare cross-workspace rules — required fields in `package.json`,
    forbidden dependencies, version pinning, and consistency requirements — using a JavaScript or Prolog DSL.
    `yarn constraints` validates the project; `yarn constraints --fix` applies automatic fixes. Foundational
    for governed monorepos.
- aid: yarn-pkg:yarn-protocols
  name: Yarn Protocols
  tags:
  - Protocols
  - Dependency Resolution
  - JavaScript
  humanURL: https://yarnpkg.com/protocol/npm
  properties:
  - url: https://yarnpkg.com/protocols
    type: Documentation
  - url: https://yarnpkg.com/protocol/npm
    type: Documentation
  - url: https://yarnpkg.com/protocol/git
    type: Documentation
  - url: https://yarnpkg.com/protocol/github
    type: Documentation
  - url: https://yarnpkg.com/protocol/file
    type: Documentation
  - url: https://yarnpkg.com/protocol/link
    type: Documentation
  - url: https://yarnpkg.com/protocol/portal
    type: Documentation
  - url: https://yarnpkg.com/protocol/patch
    type: Documentation
  - url: https://yarnpkg.com/protocol/exec
    type: Documentation
  - url: https://yarnpkg.com/protocol/workspace
    type: Documentation
  description: Yarn supports a rich set of dependency protocols beyond `npm:` semver — `git:`, `github:`,
    `file:`, `link:`, `portal:`, `patch:`, `exec:`, `workspace:`, and `http(s):`. Protocols are pluggable so
    custom resolvers can be added via plugins.
- aid: yarn-pkg:yarn-plugin-api
  name: Yarn Plugin API
  tags:
  - Plugins
  - Extensibility
  - JavaScript
  - SDK
  humanURL: https://yarnpkg.com/advanced/plugin-tutorial
  properties:
  - url: https://yarnpkg.com/advanced/plugin-tutorial
    type: Documentation
  - url: https://yarnpkg.com/api
    type: Documentation
  - url: https://github.com/yarnpkg/berry/tree/master/packages/yarnpkg-core
    type: SourceCode
  - url: https://yarnpkg.com/cli/plugin/import
    type: Documentation
  - url: https://yarnpkg.com/cli/plugin/list
    type: Documentation
  description: Yarn ships with a full plugin API exposed by `@yarnpkg/core`. Plugins can register commands,
    resolvers, fetchers, linkers, and lifecycle hooks. Plugins are installed with `yarn plugin import` and
    listed/verified with `yarn plugin list`, `yarn plugin check`, and `yarn plugin runtime`. The default
    distribution bundles 20+ plugins including plugin-npm, plugin-pnp, plugin-workspace-tools,
    plugin-constraints, plugin-typescript, plugin-interactive-tools, and plugin-stage.
- aid: yarn-pkg:yarn-version
  name: Yarn Version (Release Workflow)
  tags:
  - Versioning
  - Release Management
  - Monorepo
  - JavaScript
  humanURL: https://yarnpkg.com/features/release-workflow
  properties:
  - url: https://yarnpkg.com/features/release-workflow
    type: Documentation
  - url: https://yarnpkg.com/cli/version
    type: Documentation
  - url: https://yarnpkg.com/cli/version/apply
    type: Documentation
  - url: https://yarnpkg.com/cli/version/check
    type: Documentation
  description: Yarn provides a release-workflow primitive for monorepos. Contributors declare per-workspace
    version bumps as deferred decisions (`yarn version check --interactive`) and the project applies them all
    at release time (`yarn version apply`). Integrates with `yarn npm publish` for npm release pipelines.
- aid: yarn-pkg:yarn-patch
  name: Yarn Patch
  tags:
  - Patch
  - Dependency Customization
  - JavaScript
  humanURL: https://yarnpkg.com/cli/patch
  properties:
  - url: https://yarnpkg.com/cli/patch
    type: Documentation
  - url: https://yarnpkg.com/cli/patch-commit
    type: Documentation
  description: First-class dependency patching — `yarn patch <package>` extracts a temporary editable copy of a
    dependency and `yarn patch-commit` saves the resulting diff as a `patch:` protocol entry in the lockfile.
    Eliminates the need for patch-package as a separate tool.
- aid: yarn-pkg:yarn-dlx
  name: Yarn DLX
  tags:
  - dlx
  - Ephemeral Execution
  - JavaScript
  humanURL: https://yarnpkg.com/cli/dlx
  properties:
  - url: https://yarnpkg.com/cli/dlx
    type: Documentation
  description: The yarn dlx command runs a package in an isolated temporary environment without permanently
    installing it. Yarn's equivalent of npx, used for one-shot tools, code generators, and bootstrap scripts.
    Always pulls a fresh copy by default, preventing the stale-cache footguns of npx.
name: Yarn
tags:
- Package Manager
- JavaScript
- Node.js
- Monorepo
- Workspaces
- Plug'n'Play
- Open Source
- Berry
- Yarn 4
kind: contract
image: https://kinlane-productions2.s3.amazonaws.com/apis-json/apis-json-logo.jpg
access: Open Source
common:
- url: https://yarnpkg.com
  type: Portal
- url: https://yarnpkg.com/getting-started
  type: GettingStarted
- url: https://yarnpkg.com/getting-started/install
  type: Documentation
- url: https://yarnpkg.com/cli
  name: Yarn CLI Reference
  type: Documentation
- url: https://yarnpkg.com/api
  name: Yarn Programmatic API
  type: Documentation
- url: https://yarnpkg.com/migration/guide
  name: Migration Guide
  type: Documentation
- url: https://yarnpkg.com/features/workspaces
  name: Workspaces
  type: Documentation
- url: https://yarnpkg.com/features/pnp
  name: Plug'n'Play
  type: Documentation
- url: https://yarnpkg.com/features/zero-installs
  name: Zero-Installs
  type: Documentation
- url: https://yarnpkg.com/features/constraints
  name: Constraints
  type: Documentation
- url: https://yarnpkg.com/features/protocols
  name: Protocols
  type: Documentation
- url: https://yarnpkg.com/features/plugins
  name: Plugins
  type: Documentation
- url: https://yarnpkg.com/features/editor-sdks
  name: Editor SDKs
  type: Documentation
- url: https://yarnpkg.com/configuration/yarnrc
  name: .yarnrc.yml Reference
  type: Documentation
- url: https://yarnpkg.com/configuration/manifest
  name: package.json Manifest
  type: Documentation
- url: https://github.com/yarnpkg/berry
  name: yarnpkg/berry
  type: SourceCode
- url: https://github.com/yarnpkg/berry
  name: Yarn GitHub Repo
  type: GitHubOrganization
- url: https://github.com/yarnpkg
  name: yarnpkg
  type: GitHubOrganization
- url: https://github.com/yarnpkg/berry/blob/master/LICENSE.md
  name: BSD-2-Clause License
  type: License
- url: https://github.com/yarnpkg/berry/blob/master/GOVERNANCE.md
  name: Project Governance
  type: Documentation
- url: https://github.com/yarnpkg/berry/blob/master/CONTRIBUTING.md
  name: Contributing Guide
  type: Documentation
- url: https://github.com/yarnpkg/berry/blob/master/CODE_OF_CONDUCT.md
  name: Code of Conduct
  type: CodeOfConduct
- url: https://github.com/yarnpkg/berry/releases
  name: Releases
  type: ChangeLog
- url: https://github.com/yarnpkg/rfcs
  name: Yarn RFCs
  type: Documentation
- url: https://discord.gg/yarnpkg
  name: Discord
  type: Forum
- url: https://opencollective.com/yarnpkg
  name: Open Collective
  type: Funding
- url: https://github.com/yarnpkg/setup-action
  name: setup-action
  type: GitHubAction
- url: https://www.npmjs.com/package/yarn
  name: yarn on npm
  type: Package
- url: https://www.npmjs.com/package/@yarnpkg/core
  name: '@yarnpkg/core'
  type: Package
- url: https://www.npmjs.com/package/@yarnpkg/cli
  name: '@yarnpkg/cli'
  type: Package
- url: https://www.npmjs.com/package/@yarnpkg/pnp
  name: '@yarnpkg/pnp'
  type: Package
- url: https://www.npmjs.com/package/@yarnpkg/fslib
  name: '@yarnpkg/fslib'
  type: Package
- url: https://www.npmjs.com/package/@yarnpkg/shell
  name: '@yarnpkg/shell'
  type: Package
- url: https://www.npmjs.com/package/@yarnpkg/sdks
  name: '@yarnpkg/sdks'
  type: SDK
- url: https://github.com/yarnpkg/berry/tree/master/packages
  name: Monorepo Packages
  type: SourceCode
- type: Features
  data:
  - Yarn 4 (Berry) — TypeScript rewrite of the Yarn package manager, fully independent open-source project
  - Workspaces — first-class monorepo support with `yarn workspace`, `yarn workspaces foreach`, and
    `yarn workspaces focus`
  - Plug'n'Play (PnP) — node_modules-free dependency resolution via a single `.pnp.cjs` manifest plus a Rust
    implementation (pnp-rs)
  - Zero-Installs — commit the cache so clones bootstrap with no `yarn install` step
  - Constraints — JavaScript and Prolog DSL for cross-workspace policy enforcement
  - Protocols — npm, git, github, file, link, portal, patch, exec, workspace, and http(s) dependency sources
  - Plugin system — extensible commands, resolvers, fetchers, and linkers via `@yarnpkg/core`
  - 20+ bundled plugins including plugin-npm, plugin-pnp, plugin-workspace-tools, plugin-constraints,
    plugin-typescript, and plugin-interactive-tools
  - First-class dependency patching with yarn patch and yarn patch-commit, no extra tooling required
  - Yarn dlx — safe ephemeral package execution as a drop-in replacement for npx
  - Yarn up — project-wide dependency upgrades across all workspaces
  - Yarn dedupe — collapse overlapping semver ranges into the fewest possible resolutions
  - Yarn version — release workflow with deferred per-workspace version decisions
  - Yarn npm publish and yarn npm login for npm registry publishing
  - Yarn npm audit for vulnerability scanning
  - Corepack integration — projects pin their Yarn version via the packageManager field in package.json
  - Yarn set version stable upgrades the per-project Yarn binary
  - Configuration via .yarnrc.yml with checked-in defaults
  - Editor SDKs (@yarnpkg/sdks) for VS Code, Vim, and other editors to integrate with PnP
  - Portable @yarnpkg/shell interpreter so scripts in package.json work identically on every OS
  - BSD-2-Clause license, governed by a community contributor model independent of any single company
  sources:
  - https://yarnpkg.com
  - https://yarnpkg.com/getting-started
  - https://yarnpkg.com/cli
  - https://github.com/yarnpkg/berry
  - https://yarnpkg.com/features/workspaces
  - https://yarnpkg.com/features/pnp
  - https://yarnpkg.com/features/zero-installs
  - https://yarnpkg.com/features/constraints
  updated: '2026-05-25'
created: '2026-05-25T00:00:00.000Z'
modified: '2026-05-25'
position: Consuming
description: Yarn is an open-source JavaScript package manager and project manager originally created at Facebook
  in 2016 and now developed as a fully independent community project (Yarn Berry, currently v4) on
  github.com/yarnpkg/berry. Yarn was the first package manager designed around workspaces and introduced
  Plug'n'Play (a node_modules-free module resolution strategy), Zero-Installs (committable caches for instant
  clones), Constraints (a cross-workspace policy DSL), and a rich protocol system covering npm, git, github,
  file, link, portal, patch, exec, and workspace dependencies. It is distributed via Corepack and licensed
  under BSD-2-Clause.
maintainers:
- FN: Yarn Contributors
  email: [email protected]
  url: https://yarnpkg.com
- FN: Kin Lane
  email: [email protected]
  X: apievangelist
  url: https://apievangelist.com
specificationVersion: '0.16'