Skip to main content
bun why explains why a package is installed in your project by showing the dependency chain that led to it.

Usage

terminal

Arguments

  • <package>: The name of the package to explain. Supports glob patterns like @org/* or *-lodash.

Options

  • --top: Show only the top-level dependencies instead of the complete dependency tree.
  • --depth <number>: Maximum depth of the dependency tree to display.

Examples

Check why a specific package is installed:
terminal
Check why all packages matching a pattern are installed:
terminal
Show only top-level dependencies:
terminal
Limit the dependency tree depth:
terminal

Understanding the Output

The output shows:
  • The package name and version being queried
  • The dependency chain that led to its installation
  • The type of dependency (dev, peer, optional, or production)
  • The version requirement specified in each package’s dependencies
For nested dependencies, the command shows the complete dependency tree by default, with indentation indicating the relationship hierarchy.