# Step 2: Installing Express
Before we write any code, you'll need to install the Express library. We're going to use the [**Node Package Manager (npm)**](https://www.npmjs.com/)to download it using the **`npm install`** command.
NPM is the place to go to download other Node code written by other people. There are thousands of open-source, 3rd-party Node modules (also known as "packages") by other people that you can download and use in your own projects.
As we install Express, we'll need to update the `package.json` to add Express as a dependency. We do this so that other people working on the project will know to install Express before running any of the code. This can be done by adding **`--save`** to the end of your command.
**Run the following command in your terminal:**
{% code title="Command line" %}
```bash
$ npm install express --save
```
{% endcode %}
Express should now be installed. Check your `package.json` file to make sure it has been added as a dependency. It will look something like this:
---
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