The npm CLI is the command-line tool used to work with npm package management features. Developers use it to install dependencies, run scripts, audit packages, configure registries, and publish releases from a terminal. It is the main interface between a project and the npm ecosystem.
In cyber security, the npm CLI matters because it controls how code enters and leaves a software supply chain. Attackers often target package workflows through typosquatting, malicious dependencies, or compromised publishing credentials. Defensive use of the CLI includes verifying lockfiles, limiting install sources, reviewing scripts that run during installation, and using trusted publishing or staged release steps. Because the CLI can execute powerful package operations, its settings and permissions directly affect whether untrusted code is accepted or published.