Hardhat is a powerful Ethereum development environment that allows developers to compile, deploy, test, and debug their smart contracts. Installing Hardhat is a straightforward process that involves setting up a Node.js environment and using npm (Node Package Manager) to install Hardhat. Below are the detailed steps to install Hardhat:

1. Prerequisites

Before installing Hardhat, ensure you have the following prerequisites:

• Node.js: Hardhat requires Node.js version 12 or higher. You can download it from the official Node.js website.
• npm: npm is included with Node.js, so you will have it installed automatically when you install Node.js.

2. Create a New Project Directory

Open your terminal or command prompt and create a new directory for your Hardhat project. Navigate into that directory:

mkdir my-hardhat-project
cd my-hardhat-project

3. Initialize a New npm Project

Next, initialize a new npm project in your directory. This will create a package.json file that will manage your project's dependencies:

npm init -y

The -y flag automatically accepts the default settings, creating a basic package.json file.

4. Install Hardhat

Now, you can install Hardhat as a development dependency. Run the following command:

npm install --save-dev hardhat

This command will download and install Hardhat and its dependencies into your project directory. After the installation is complete, your package.json file will include Hardhat under the devDependencies section:

{
  "devDependencies": {
    "hardhat": "^2.0.0"
  }
}

5. Create a Hardhat Project

After installing Hardhat, you can create a new Hardhat project by running the following command:

npx hardhat

This command will prompt you to choose what kind of project you want to create. You can choose from the following options:

• Create a sample project: This option sets up a project with example contracts and tests.
• Create an empty hardhat.config.js: This option creates an empty configuration file.
• Exit: This option exits the Hardhat setup.

For a quick start, select the first option to create a sample project.

6. Project Structure

Once you create a project, Hardhat generates a directory structure similar to the following:

package.json0

This structure includes directories for contracts, scripts, and tests, along with the main Hardhat configuration file.

7. Running Hardhat

Now that you have set up your Hardhat project, you can run various Hardhat commands. For example, to compile your smart contracts, use:

package.json1
To run tests, you can execute:
package.json2
And to deploy your contracts, you can run:
package.json3
Conclusion
Installing Hardhat is a simple process that involves setting up a Node.js environment and using npm to manage your project's dependencies. By following the steps outlined above, you can quickly get started with Hardhat and begin developing your Ethereum smart contracts.