npm · owlstronaut · May 21, 2025 · May 19, 2025 · May 19, 2025 · May 19, 2025
@@ -228,6 +228,20 @@ Reasons for a package removal include:
 
 Due to the lack of necessary context, `uninstall` lifecycle scripts are not implemented and will not function.
 
+### Working Directory for Scripts
+
+Scripts are always run from the root of the package folder, regardless of what the current working directory is when npm is invoked. This means your scripts can reliably assume they are running in the package root.
+
+If you want your script to behave differently based on the directory you were in when you ran npm, you can use the INIT_CWD environment variable, which holds the full path you were in when you ran npm run.
+
+#### Historical Behavior in Older npm Versions
+
+For npm v6 and earlier, scripts were generally run from the root of the package, but there were rare cases and bugs in older versions where this was not guaranteed. If your package must support very old npm versions, you may wish to add a safeguard in your scripts (for example, by checking process.cwd()).
+
+For more details, see:
+- [npm v7 release notes](https://github.com/npm/cli/releases/tag/v7.0.0)
+- [Discussion about script working directory reliability in npm v6 and earlier](https://github.com/npm/npm/issues/12356)
+
 ### User
 
 When npm is run as root, scripts are always run with the effective uid
@@ -350,11 +364,6 @@ file.
   preinstall or install script. If you are doing this, please consider if
   there is another option. The only valid use of `install` or `preinstall`
   scripts is for compilation which must be done on the target architecture.
-* Scripts are run from the root of the package folder, regardless of what the
-  current working directory is when `npm` is invoked. If you want your
-  script to use different behavior based on what subdirectory you're in, you
-  can use the `INIT_CWD` environment variable, which holds the full path you
-  were in when you ran `npm run`.
 
-
-
 ### See Also