# Setting the Default Node.JS version with nvm

When developing projects and products in Node.JS, it becomes essential to set the Node.JS version being used on your computer. `nvm` is a really useful tool for changing your Node.JS version on the fly. [If you need to install nvm, you can learn how to do that here](https://fjolt.com/article/linux-install-nvm).

`nvm` also lets you set the default version of Node.JS so that you don't have to constantly change it. To do that, you can use the `nvm` command like so:
```javascript
nvm alias default 18.10.0
```

Before you do that, though, make sure you have the version you want to use installed. You can do that using `nvm install`:
```javascript
nvm install 18.10.0
```

If you want to see what versions are available for you to set as your default version of Node.JS, try using `nvm ls`, which will return a list likethe one below. It also states which version is set as the default, beside the `default -> node` line.
```shell
❯ nvm ls
       v14.15.1
        v16.4.0
       v16.13.2
       v16.14.0
->      v18.3.0
         system
default -> node (-> v18.3.0)
iojs -> N/A (default)
unstable -> N/A (default)
node -> stable (-> v18.3.0) (default)
stable -> 18.3 (-> v18.3.0) (default)
lts/* -> lts/gallium (-> 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 -> v14.20.0 (-> N/A)
lts/gallium -> v16.17.0 (-> N/A)
```

Also, running `node -v` will show you which version you are currently using. If it's not the one you want, you can set it back to the default using `nvm use default`:
```
❯ node -v
v16.18.0
❯ nvm use default
Now using node v18.3.0 (npm v8.11.0)
```