1 semver(1) -- The semantic versioner for npm
2 ===========================================
7 npm install --save semver
15 const semver = require('semver')
17 semver.valid('1.2.3') // '1.2.3'
18 semver.valid('a.b.c') // null
19 semver.clean(' =v1.2.3 ') // '1.2.3'
20 semver.satisfies('1.2.3', '1.x || >=2.5.0 || 5.0.0 - 7.2.3') // true
21 semver.gt('1.2.3', '9.8.7') // false
22 semver.lt('1.2.3', '9.8.7') // true
23 semver.minVersion('>=1.0.0') // '1.0.0'
24 semver.valid(semver.coerce('v2')) // '2.0.0'
25 semver.valid(semver.coerce('42.6.7.9.3-alpha')) // '42.6.7'
28 As a command-line utility:
33 A JavaScript implementation of the https://semver.org/ specification
34 Copyright Isaac Z. Schlueter
36 Usage: semver [options] <version> [<version> [...]]
37 Prints valid versions sorted by SemVer precedence
41 Print versions that match the specified range.
43 -i --increment [<level>]
44 Increment a version by the specified level. Level can
45 be one of: major, minor, patch, premajor, preminor,
46 prepatch, or prerelease. Default level is 'patch'.
47 Only one version may be specified.
50 Identifier to be used to prefix premajor, preminor,
51 prepatch or prerelease version increments.
54 Interpret versions and ranges loosely
56 -p --include-prerelease
57 Always include prerelease versions in range matching
60 Coerce a string into SemVer if possible
61 (does not imply --loose)
63 Program exits successfully if any valid version satisfies
64 all supplied ranges, and prints all satisfying versions.
66 If no satisfying versions are found, then exits failure.
68 Versions are printed in ascending order, so supplying
69 multiple versions to the utility will just sort them.
74 A "version" is described by the `v2.0.0` specification found at
75 <https://semver.org/>.
77 A leading `"="` or `"v"` character is stripped off and ignored.
81 A `version range` is a set of `comparators` which specify versions
82 that satisfy the range.
84 A `comparator` is composed of an `operator` and a `version`. The set
85 of primitive `operators` is:
88 * `<=` Less than or equal to
90 * `>=` Greater than or equal to
91 * `=` Equal. If no operator is specified, then equality is assumed,
92 so this operator is optional, but MAY be included.
94 For example, the comparator `>=1.2.7` would match the versions
95 `1.2.7`, `1.2.8`, `2.5.3`, and `1.3.9`, but not the versions `1.2.6`
98 Comparators can be joined by whitespace to form a `comparator set`,
99 which is satisfied by the **intersection** of all of the comparators
102 A range is composed of one or more comparator sets, joined by `||`. A
103 version matches a range if and only if every comparator in at least
104 one of the `||`-separated comparator sets is satisfied by the version.
106 For example, the range `>=1.2.7 <1.3.0` would match the versions
107 `1.2.7`, `1.2.8`, and `1.2.99`, but not the versions `1.2.6`, `1.3.0`,
110 The range `1.2.7 || >=1.2.9 <2.0.0` would match the versions `1.2.7`,
111 `1.2.9`, and `1.4.6`, but not the versions `1.2.8` or `2.0.0`.
115 If a version has a prerelease tag (for example, `1.2.3-alpha.3`) then
116 it will only be allowed to satisfy comparator sets if at least one
117 comparator with the same `[major, minor, patch]` tuple also has a
120 For example, the range `>1.2.3-alpha.3` would be allowed to match the
121 version `1.2.3-alpha.7`, but it would *not* be satisfied by
122 `3.4.5-alpha.9`, even though `3.4.5-alpha.9` is technically "greater
123 than" `1.2.3-alpha.3` according to the SemVer sort rules. The version
124 range only accepts prerelease tags on the `1.2.3` version. The
125 version `3.4.5` *would* satisfy the range, because it does not have a
126 prerelease flag, and `3.4.5` is greater than `1.2.3-alpha.7`.
128 The purpose for this behavior is twofold. First, prerelease versions
129 frequently are updated very quickly, and contain many breaking changes
130 that are (by the author's design) not yet fit for public consumption.
131 Therefore, by default, they are excluded from range matching
134 Second, a user who has opted into using a prerelease version has
135 clearly indicated the intent to use *that specific* set of
136 alpha/beta/rc versions. By including a prerelease tag in the range,
137 the user is indicating that they are aware of the risk. However, it
138 is still not appropriate to assume that they have opted into taking a
139 similar risk on the *next* set of prerelease versions.
141 Note that this behavior can be suppressed (treating all prerelease
142 versions as if they were normal versions, for the purpose of range
143 matching) by setting the `includePrerelease` flag on the options
145 [functions](https://github.com/npm/node-semver#functions) that do
148 #### Prerelease Identifiers
150 The method `.inc` takes an additional `identifier` string argument that
151 will append the value of the string as a prerelease identifier:
154 semver.inc('1.2.3', 'prerelease', 'beta')
158 command-line example:
161 $ semver 1.2.3 -i prerelease --preid beta
165 Which then can be used to increment further:
168 $ semver 1.2.4-beta.0 -i prerelease
172 ### Advanced Range Syntax
174 Advanced range syntax desugars to primitive comparators in
177 Advanced ranges may be combined in the same way as primitive
178 comparators using white space or `||`.
180 #### Hyphen Ranges `X.Y.Z - A.B.C`
182 Specifies an inclusive set.
184 * `1.2.3 - 2.3.4` := `>=1.2.3 <=2.3.4`
186 If a partial version is provided as the first version in the inclusive
187 range, then the missing pieces are replaced with zeroes.
189 * `1.2 - 2.3.4` := `>=1.2.0 <=2.3.4`
191 If a partial version is provided as the second version in the
192 inclusive range, then all versions that start with the supplied parts
193 of the tuple are accepted, but nothing that would be greater than the
194 provided tuple parts.
196 * `1.2.3 - 2.3` := `>=1.2.3 <2.4.0`
197 * `1.2.3 - 2` := `>=1.2.3 <3.0.0`
199 #### X-Ranges `1.2.x` `1.X` `1.2.*` `*`
201 Any of `X`, `x`, or `*` may be used to "stand in" for one of the
202 numeric values in the `[major, minor, patch]` tuple.
204 * `*` := `>=0.0.0` (Any version satisfies)
205 * `1.x` := `>=1.0.0 <2.0.0` (Matching major version)
206 * `1.2.x` := `>=1.2.0 <1.3.0` (Matching major and minor versions)
208 A partial version range is treated as an X-Range, so the special
209 character is in fact optional.
211 * `""` (empty string) := `*` := `>=0.0.0`
212 * `1` := `1.x.x` := `>=1.0.0 <2.0.0`
213 * `1.2` := `1.2.x` := `>=1.2.0 <1.3.0`
215 #### Tilde Ranges `~1.2.3` `~1.2` `~1`
217 Allows patch-level changes if a minor version is specified on the
218 comparator. Allows minor-level changes if not.
220 * `~1.2.3` := `>=1.2.3 <1.(2+1).0` := `>=1.2.3 <1.3.0`
221 * `~1.2` := `>=1.2.0 <1.(2+1).0` := `>=1.2.0 <1.3.0` (Same as `1.2.x`)
222 * `~1` := `>=1.0.0 <(1+1).0.0` := `>=1.0.0 <2.0.0` (Same as `1.x`)
223 * `~0.2.3` := `>=0.2.3 <0.(2+1).0` := `>=0.2.3 <0.3.0`
224 * `~0.2` := `>=0.2.0 <0.(2+1).0` := `>=0.2.0 <0.3.0` (Same as `0.2.x`)
225 * `~0` := `>=0.0.0 <(0+1).0.0` := `>=0.0.0 <1.0.0` (Same as `0.x`)
226 * `~1.2.3-beta.2` := `>=1.2.3-beta.2 <1.3.0` Note that prereleases in
227 the `1.2.3` version will be allowed, if they are greater than or
228 equal to `beta.2`. So, `1.2.3-beta.4` would be allowed, but
229 `1.2.4-beta.2` would not, because it is a prerelease of a
230 different `[major, minor, patch]` tuple.
232 #### Caret Ranges `^1.2.3` `^0.2.5` `^0.0.4`
234 Allows changes that do not modify the left-most non-zero digit in the
235 `[major, minor, patch]` tuple. In other words, this allows patch and
236 minor updates for versions `1.0.0` and above, patch updates for
237 versions `0.X >=0.1.0`, and *no* updates for versions `0.0.X`.
239 Many authors treat a `0.x` version as if the `x` were the major
240 "breaking-change" indicator.
242 Caret ranges are ideal when an author may make breaking changes
243 between `0.2.4` and `0.3.0` releases, which is a common practice.
244 However, it presumes that there will *not* be breaking changes between
245 `0.2.4` and `0.2.5`. It allows for changes that are presumed to be
246 additive (but non-breaking), according to commonly observed practices.
248 * `^1.2.3` := `>=1.2.3 <2.0.0`
249 * `^0.2.3` := `>=0.2.3 <0.3.0`
250 * `^0.0.3` := `>=0.0.3 <0.0.4`
251 * `^1.2.3-beta.2` := `>=1.2.3-beta.2 <2.0.0` Note that prereleases in
252 the `1.2.3` version will be allowed, if they are greater than or
253 equal to `beta.2`. So, `1.2.3-beta.4` would be allowed, but
254 `1.2.4-beta.2` would not, because it is a prerelease of a
255 different `[major, minor, patch]` tuple.
256 * `^0.0.3-beta` := `>=0.0.3-beta <0.0.4` Note that prereleases in the
257 `0.0.3` version *only* will be allowed, if they are greater than or
258 equal to `beta`. So, `0.0.3-pr.2` would be allowed.
260 When parsing caret ranges, a missing `patch` value desugars to the
261 number `0`, but will allow flexibility within that value, even if the
262 major and minor versions are both `0`.
264 * `^1.2.x` := `>=1.2.0 <2.0.0`
265 * `^0.0.x` := `>=0.0.0 <0.1.0`
266 * `^0.0` := `>=0.0.0 <0.1.0`
268 A missing `minor` and `patch` values will desugar to zero, but also
269 allow flexibility within those values, even if the major version is
272 * `^1.x` := `>=1.0.0 <2.0.0`
273 * `^0.x` := `>=0.0.0 <1.0.0`
277 Putting all this together, here is a Backus-Naur grammar for ranges,
278 for the benefit of parser authors:
281 range-set ::= range ( logical-or range ) *
282 logical-or ::= ( ' ' ) * '||' ( ' ' ) *
283 range ::= hyphen | simple ( ' ' simple ) * | ''
284 hyphen ::= partial ' - ' partial
285 simple ::= primitive | partial | tilde | caret
286 primitive ::= ( '<' | '>' | '>=' | '<=' | '=' ) partial
287 partial ::= xr ( '.' xr ( '.' xr qualifier ? )? )?
288 xr ::= 'x' | 'X' | '*' | nr
289 nr ::= '0' | ['1'-'9'] ( ['0'-'9'] ) *
290 tilde ::= '~' partial
291 caret ::= '^' partial
292 qualifier ::= ( '-' pre )? ( '+' build )?
295 parts ::= part ( '.' part ) *
296 part ::= nr | [-0-9A-Za-z]+
301 All methods and classes take a final `options` object argument. All
302 options in this object are `false` by default. The options supported
305 - `loose` Be more forgiving about not-quite-valid semver strings.
306 (Any resulting output will always be 100% strict compliant, of
307 course.) For backwards compatibility reasons, if the `options`
308 argument is a boolean value instead of an object, it is interpreted
309 to be the `loose` param.
310 - `includePrerelease` Set to suppress the [default
311 behavior](https://github.com/npm/node-semver#prerelease-tags) of
312 excluding prerelease tagged versions from ranges unless they are
313 explicitly opted into.
315 Strict-mode Comparators and Ranges will be strict about the SemVer
316 strings that they parse.
318 * `valid(v)`: Return the parsed version, or null if it's not valid.
319 * `inc(v, release)`: Return the version incremented by the release
320 type (`major`, `premajor`, `minor`, `preminor`, `patch`,
321 `prepatch`, or `prerelease`), or null if it's not valid
322 * `premajor` in one call will bump the version up to the next major
323 version and down to a prerelease of that major version.
324 `preminor`, and `prepatch` work the same way.
325 * If called from a non-prerelease version, the `prerelease` will work the
326 same as `prepatch`. It increments the patch version, then makes a
327 prerelease. If the input version is already a prerelease it simply
329 * `prerelease(v)`: Returns an array of prerelease components, or null
330 if none exist. Example: `prerelease('1.2.3-alpha.1') -> ['alpha', 1]`
331 * `major(v)`: Return the major version number.
332 * `minor(v)`: Return the minor version number.
333 * `patch(v)`: Return the patch version number.
334 * `intersects(r1, r2, loose)`: Return true if the two supplied ranges
335 or comparators intersect.
336 * `parse(v)`: Attempt to parse a string as a semantic version, returning either
337 a `SemVer` object or `null`.
341 * `gt(v1, v2)`: `v1 > v2`
342 * `gte(v1, v2)`: `v1 >= v2`
343 * `lt(v1, v2)`: `v1 < v2`
344 * `lte(v1, v2)`: `v1 <= v2`
345 * `eq(v1, v2)`: `v1 == v2` This is true if they're logically equivalent,
346 even if they're not the exact same string. You already know how to
348 * `neq(v1, v2)`: `v1 != v2` The opposite of `eq`.
349 * `cmp(v1, comparator, v2)`: Pass in a comparison string, and it'll call
350 the corresponding function above. `"==="` and `"!=="` do simple
351 string comparison, but are included for completeness. Throws if an
352 invalid comparison string is provided.
353 * `compare(v1, v2)`: Return `0` if `v1 == v2`, or `1` if `v1` is greater, or `-1` if
354 `v2` is greater. Sorts in ascending order if passed to `Array.sort()`.
355 * `rcompare(v1, v2)`: The reverse of compare. Sorts an array of versions
356 in descending order when passed to `Array.sort()`.
357 * `diff(v1, v2)`: Returns difference between two versions by the release type
358 (`major`, `premajor`, `minor`, `preminor`, `patch`, `prepatch`, or `prerelease`),
359 or null if the versions are the same.
363 * `intersects(comparator)`: Return true if the comparators intersect
367 * `validRange(range)`: Return the valid range or null if it's not valid
368 * `satisfies(version, range)`: Return true if the version satisfies the
370 * `maxSatisfying(versions, range)`: Return the highest version in the list
371 that satisfies the range, or `null` if none of them do.
372 * `minSatisfying(versions, range)`: Return the lowest version in the list
373 that satisfies the range, or `null` if none of them do.
374 * `minVersion(range)`: Return the lowest version that can possibly match
376 * `gtr(version, range)`: Return `true` if version is greater than all the
377 versions possible in the range.
378 * `ltr(version, range)`: Return `true` if version is less than all the
379 versions possible in the range.
380 * `outside(version, range, hilo)`: Return true if the version is outside
381 the bounds of the range in either the high or low direction. The
382 `hilo` argument must be either the string `'>'` or `'<'`. (This is
383 the function called by `gtr` and `ltr`.)
384 * `intersects(range)`: Return true if any of the ranges comparators intersect
386 Note that, since ranges may be non-contiguous, a version might not be
387 greater than a range, less than a range, *or* satisfy a range! For
388 example, the range `1.2 <1.2.9 || >2.0.0` would have a hole from `1.2.9`
389 until `2.0.0`, so the version `1.2.10` would not be greater than the
390 range (because `2.0.1` satisfies, which is higher), nor less than the
391 range (since `1.2.8` satisfies, which is lower), and it also does not
394 If you want to know if a version satisfies or does not satisfy a
395 range, use the `satisfies(version, range)` function.
399 * `coerce(version)`: Coerces a string to semver if possible
401 This aims to provide a very forgiving translation of a non-semver string to
402 semver. It looks for the first digit in a string, and consumes all
403 remaining characters which satisfy at least a partial semver (e.g., `1`,
404 `1.2`, `1.2.3`) up to the max permitted length (256 characters). Longer
405 versions are simply truncated (`4.6.3.9.2-alpha2` becomes `4.6.3`). All
406 surrounding text is simply ignored (`v3.4 replaces v3.3.1` becomes
407 `3.4.0`). Only text which lacks digits will fail coercion (`version one`
408 is not valid). The maximum length for any semver component considered for
409 coercion is 16 characters; longer components will be ignored
410 (`10000000000000000.4.7.4` becomes `4.7.4`). The maximum value for any
411 semver component is `Number.MAX_SAFE_INTEGER || (2**53 - 1)`; higher value
412 components are invalid (`9999999999999999.4.7.4` is likely invalid).