What is the function of the 'npm' command in Node.js?

The function of the 'npm' command in Node.js primarily revolves around managing packages and dependencies. When you work on a Node.js project, you often rely on numerous packages and libraries that provide additional functionality. The Node Package Manager (npm) simplifies the process of installing, updating, and managing these packages.

Through npm, you can easily install packages from the npm repository, which hosts thousands of reusable code packages. Additionally, npm allows you to define dependencies in a project's package.json file, ensuring that all necessary libraries are available and properly configured for your application. Furthermore, it provides commands to update and remove packages as needed, making it a crucial tool for version control and dependency management in Node.js projects.

In contrast, other options describe different functionalities that do not capture the core essence of npm's primary role. For example, initializing a new Node application or running scripts can be handled by other specific commands or tools. Compiling JavaScript code is typically a task related to build tools or transpilers rather than npm itself.