Why is the node_modules folder blacked out in Webstorm?

Question

I'm using Webstorm to develop a web app.

However, in the projects bar, the node_modules folder is always blacked out and I don't want it to be (all the subfolders also get blacked-out when expanded).

I can't find any settings anywhere that point to this issue.

Does anyone know why this happens and how to turn it off?

Answer 1

Check your .gitignore file, maybe node_modules listed there.

.gitignore file lists all files and folders (from your current project) that are excluded from version control (like Git).

Usually IDEs (like: Visual Studio Code, Webstorm, etc.) treat folders (excluded from version control) and their subfolders by changing its visual appearance (graying/blacking them out).

More about .gitgnore.