What is npm audit and how does it work?

Can you explain what npm audit is and how it helps with package security?

npm audit is a command that checks your project's dependencies for known vulnerabilities. It analyzes the package-lock.json file and provides a report of any security issues found.

How does npm audit determine the versions of packages to check?

npm audit uses the version information in your package-lock.json to identify which packages are installed. It then compares these versions against a database of known vulnerabilities.

What should I do if npm audit finds vulnerabilities?

If vulnerabilities are found, you can update the affected packages to their latest versions using npm update or follow the recommendations provided in the audit report.

Are there any commands to fix vulnerabilities automatically?

Yes, you can use npm audit fix to automatically install compatible updates to vulnerable dependencies.