It is practically impossible to avoid making a node_modules folder, as it contains the source code for the module, downloaded onto your hard drive.

However, even though it's impossible to avoid downloading node_modules, you can add it to an ignore file (such as .gitignore).

If you want to avoid node_modules in both Git and npm (recommended), then you only have to create a .gitignore file, as npm will ignore everything specified in the .gitignore file.

node_modules

Simply add the above in .gitignore.

If you only want it to ignore node_modules in npm and not Git (not recommended), then create a .npmignore file, and add the following:

node_modules

In summary, even though it isn't possible to remove node_modules, you can ignore it!