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Guide · Open source

How to use natural: install and run text processing in Node.js

Updated · written with AI from the project's own documentation and checked against our catalogue data

natural is an MIT-licensed JavaScript library for working with human language inside Node.js programs. It offers text-processing functions such as breaking text into parts and reducing words to root forms. This guide shows how to install it with npm, what it is suited for, and where it falls short, so you can decide whether it fits your project.

naturalNaturalNode/natural · ★ 10.9k · MIT

Quick start

  1. 1Install Node.js. natural requires Node.js. Make sure Node.js is installed before continuing.
  2. 2Open your project folder. Move to the folder of the Node.js project where you want to use natural.
  3. 3Install natural from npm. Run npm install natural to add the library to your project.
  4. 4Read the documentation. Open the GitHub Pages documentation to find the functions you need and how to call them.
  5. 5Try one function on sample text. Load the library in a small script and run one text-processing function to confirm it works.
  6. 6Decide if it fits. Check the not-for list against your needs, and compare with alternatives if you need modern AI models or browser support.

What is natural and what can it do?

natural describes itself as a general natural language facility for Node.js. It offers a broad range of natural language processing functionality. Our analysis notes that it provides text-processing functions such as breaking text into parts and reducing words to root forms.

The library is used from code. You call its functions from your JavaScript or TypeScript program to analyze or handle text, instead of writing those pieces yourself.

What do you need before installing natural?

The only prerequisite listed is Node.js, since natural is a Node.js library. You also need npm, which is used to install packages from the npm registry.

  • Node.js installed on your machine
  • A project folder where you can run npm commands

How do you install natural with npm?

Run the install command from your project folder. The README gives this command for installing from npm.

npm install natural

How do you start using natural in a project?

After installing, load the library in your Node.js code and call the text-processing functions you need. The README points to full documentation on GitHub Pages, which lists the available functions and how to call them. Check that documentation for exact function names and usage, since this guide does not reproduce them.

  • Read the documentation at naturalnode.github.io/natural before writing code
  • Start with one small function on sample text and check the output
  • Add more functions as your feature needs them

When is natural a good fit, and when is it not?

natural suits developers who need basic text processing on a Node.js server, students learning how classic NLP techniques work in code, and developers prototyping text features before committing to a heavier tool.

It is not the right choice if you need state-of-the-art large language model results, since the README describes classic NLP facilities rather than modern AI models. It is also not aimed at browser-only projects, because the README frames it as a Node.js library, or at non-programmers, since it has no described graphical interface.

  • Good fit: server-side basic text processing in JavaScript or TypeScript
  • Good fit: learning classic NLP techniques through code
  • Poor fit: LLM-level language understanding
  • Poor fit: browser-only apps or users who want a visual tool

What are the alternatives to natural?

Comparable projects include compromise, natural-language-toolkit, wink-nlp and spaCy. Compare them on the features your project needs, the language you work in, and the runtime you deploy to. natural-language-toolkit and spaCy are not JavaScript libraries, so they suit different stacks.

What people use it for

  • Splitting user-submitted text into parts on a Node.js server
  • Reducing words to root forms as a preprocessing step for simple search or analysis
  • Learning how classic NLP techniques work by reading and running code
  • Prototyping a text analysis feature before choosing a heavier library

Frequently asked questions

How do I install natural?

Run npm install natural in your project folder. The library is installed from the npm registry, and Node.js is the only listed prerequisite.

Is natural free to use?

natural is released under the MIT License, which permits use, copying, modification and distribution, including commercially, provided the copyright notice and license text are kept. The README also states the software comes without warranty.

What do I need to run natural?

You need Node.js. natural is described as a library for Node.js programs, and the README frames it that way.

Can I use natural in the browser?

The README frames natural as a Node.js library, so browser-only projects are not its intended use. Check the documentation before attempting browser use.

Does natural use large language models?

No. The README describes classic natural language processing facilities rather than modern AI models. If you need LLM-level results, look at other tools.

What are good alternatives to natural?

Comparable projects include compromise, natural-language-toolkit, wink-nlp and spaCy. Choose based on your language, runtime and the features you need.

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Our verdict

Use natural if you are a JavaScript or TypeScript developer who needs basic text processing on a Node.js server, or a student learning classic NLP techniques through code. Pick another tool if you need state-of-the-art language model results, browser-only support, or a non-coding interface.

Install options & downloads