npm-unstar

Unstar a public package from the default registry

$ npm unstar [package_name]

$ npm unstar @[scope]/[package_name]

$ npm unstar [package_name] --registry [registry_url]

$ npm unstar [package_name] --auth-type [legacy|oauth|web|saml]

$ npm unstar [package_name] --otp [otp]

$ npm unstar [package_name] --loglevel [silent|error|warn|notice|http|timing|info|verbose|silly]

npm unstar package-name

package-name
    The required name of the npm package from which to remove a star.

--registry=<url>
    Specifies the npm registry to use for this operation, overriding the default registry.

--loglevel=<level>
    Sets the verbosity of npm logging output. Common levels include silent, error, warn, http, info, verbose, and silly.

--json
    Output results in JSON format. This option can be useful for programmatic consumption of command output.

--otp=<number>
    Required for two-factor authentication (2FA) when performing operations on the npm registry that necessitate it.

npm unstar is a command-line utility within the npm (Node Package Manager) ecosystem. Its primary function is to remove a "star" from an npm package that the current user had previously marked with npm star. Staring a package on the npm registry serves a similar purpose to liking or favoriting items on other online platforms. It allows users to bookmark packages of interest for easier retrieval later (e.g., using npm star ls or npm stars), and also acts as a public endorsement, contributing to the package's visibility and perceived popularity within the npm community.

When executed, npm unstar requires the name of the package as an argument. It then communicates with the npm registry to update the user's profile, removing the specified package from their list of starred items and decrementing the global star count for that package. This operation requires the user to be logged into their npm account. If not authenticated, the command will either prompt for credentials or fail. It effectively reverses the action of npm star, providing a simple way to manage your personal collection of favored packages or to retract a previous endorsement.

Authentication Required: You must be logged into an npm account (via npm login) to unstar a package.

Network Connectivity: An active internet connection is necessary to communicate with the npm registry.

Package Existence: The specified package must exist on the npm registry for the operation to succeed.

No Local Effect: Unstarring a package only affects your registry profile; it does not modify your local node_modules directory or package.json file.

Successful execution of npm unstar relies on proper authentication with the npm registry. If you are not currently logged in, npm will prompt you to authenticate (e.g., by running npm login) or the command will fail with an authentication error.

This command performs an operation directly on the npm registry. It does not modify any files within your local project directory, such as your package.json, nor does it affect your node_modules folder. Its scope is purely related to your user profile on the npm registry.

The total number of stars a package has accumulated is publicly displayed on its page on npmjs.com and can also be queried via the npm view <package-name> stars command. Unstarring a package will decrement this public count.

The concept of "starring" packages, along with its counterpart "unstarring," has been a fundamental social feature of the npm registry since its early days. Introduced to provide a straightforward mechanism for users to bookmark packages of interest and express community support, npm star and npm unstar have evolved primarily as integral parts of the npm CLI itself. They represent foundational interactions within the npm ecosystem, allowing users to manage their personal package preferences directly via the command line.

npm star(1), npm stars(1), npm login(1), npm whoami(1), npm view(1)