# Getting Started

The ethers.js library is a compact and complete JavaScript library for Ethereum.

## Installing in Node.js

From your project directory:

    /Users/ricmoo/my-project> npm install --save ethers

And from the relevant application files:

    var ethers = require('ethers');

## Including in Web Applications

For security purposes, it is usually best to place a copy of this script on the application’s server, but for a quick prototype using the Ethers CDN (content distribution network) should suffice:

    <!-- This exposes the library as a global variable: ethers -->
    <script src="https://cdn.ethers.io/scripts/ethers-v3.min.js"
            charset="utf-8"
            type="text/javascript">
    </script>