Install Node.js / npm on Linux

The easiest way to manage Node.js / npm on Linux is by using the Node Version Manager:
https://github.com/nvm-sh/nvm

I. Install NVM

curl -o- https://raw.githubusercontent.com/nvm-sh/nvm/v0.39.7/install.sh | bash

II. Use NVM to install the latest LTS release of Node.js / npm

nvm install --lts

III. List versions

nvm ls

This will output a mix of both installed and available versions (including all LTS releases)

            N/A

default -> lts/* (-> N/A)

iojs -> N/A (default)

node -> stable (-> N/A) (default)

unstable -> N/A (default)

lts/* -> lts/iron (-> N/A)

lts/argon -> v4.9.1 (-> N/A)

lts/boron -> v6.17.1 (-> N/A)

lts/carbon -> v8.17.0 (-> N/A)

lts/dubnium -> v10.24.1 (-> N/A)

lts/erbium -> v12.22.12 (-> N/A)

lts/fermium -> v14.21.3 (-> N/A)

lts/gallium -> v16.20.2 (-> N/A)

lts/hydrogen -> v18.19.0 (-> N/A)

lts/iron -> v20.10.0 (-> N/A)

When installing and uninstalling specific versions, you can use both the numeric version, or the release designation (e.g. v16.20.2 and lts/gallium are interchangeable)

IV. Uninstall a specific version

nvm uninstall lts/iron

V. Install a specific version

nvm install lts/hydrogen

VI. Use a specific version

nvm use lts/gallium

If you're running an older version of Linux, you may only have access to older Node.js versions, because a dependency on the GNU C Library (glibc).

Trying to run anything newer than lts/gallium on Amazon Linux 2 will throw the following:

node: /lib64/libm.so.6: version `GLIBC_2.27' not found (required by node)

node: /lib64/libc.so.6: version `GLIBC_2.28' not found (required by node)

You can update the NPM version independently from Node.js, but this too has a limit. Gallium comes with version 8. At the time of this writing, it prompts that version 10 is available, but you can only upgrade up to version 9.

npm install -g npm@9

(It will complain about incompatible versions if you try to install version 10).