What is the purpose of package.json in a React project?
package.json is your project manifest. It lists your dependencies, defines scripts like starting the dev server, and stores project metadata. It is how you declare what your project needs.
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More FAQs in What Is npm and Why Does a React Project Need It?
npm is both a package manager, the tool you use to install JavaScript packages, and a registry, the public database of those packages. In a React project, you use it to install and manage libraries like React, ReactDOM, and your build tools.
Because React, ReactDOM, Babel, Parcel, and every other library you use are packages. Without npm, you would have to download and wire them up manually. npm automates dependency management.
No. node_modules is large and reproducible from package.json and the lockfile. You should add it to .gitignore and never commit it. Anyone can regenerate it by running npm install.
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