title: Difference between `npm link x` and `npm install /path/to/x`
body: <p>I thought I understood the difference between</p>
  
  <pre><code>npm link x
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>and</p>
  
  <pre><code>npm install /local/path/to/x
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>originally I thought the former created a symlink to x, whereas the latter installed a separate copy of x in your project, instead of symlinking it.</p>
  
  <p>However, I recently noticed that my original impression was wrong, and they both seem to use symlinks - so is there a difference between the two and what is it?</p>