Versioning

Hyphen Range Comparisons

There are multiple methods to handle ranges, and the first is hyphens ranges. These look like:

1.2 - 1.4.5 which is equivalent to >= 1.2 <= 1.4.5
2.3.4 - 4.5 which is equivalent to >= 2.3.4 <= 4.5

Wildcards In Comparisons

The x, X, and * characters can be used as a wildcard character. This works for all comparison operators. When used on the = operator it falls back to the patch level comparison (see tilde below). For example,

1.2.x is equivalent to >= 1.2.0, < 1.3.0
>= 1.2.x is equivalent to >= 1.2.0
<= 2.x is equivalent to < 3
* is equivalent to >= 0.0.0

Tilde Range Comparisons (Patch)

The tilde (~) comparison operator is for patch level ranges when a minor version is specified and major level changes when the minor number is missing. For example,

~1.2.3 is equivalent to >= 1.2.3, < 1.3.0
~1 is equivalent to >= 1, < 2
~2.3 is equivalent to >= 2.3, < 2.4
~1.2.x is equivalent to >= 1.2.0, < 1.3.0
~1.x is equivalent to >= 1, < 2

Caret Range Comparisons (Major)

The caret (^) comparison operator is for major level changes once a stable (1.0.0) release has occurred. Prior to a 1.0.0 release the minor versions acts as the API stability level. This is useful when comparisons of API versions as a major change is API breaking. For example,

^1.2.3 is equivalent to >= 1.2.3, < 2.0.0
^1.2.x is equivalent to >= 1.2.0, < 2.0.0
^2.3 is equivalent to >= 2.3, < 3
^2.x is equivalent to >= 2.0.0, < 3
^0.2.3 is equivalent to >=0.2.3 <0.3.0
^0.2 is equivalent to >=0.2.0 <0.3.0
^0.0.3 is equivalent to >=0.0.3 <0.0.4
^0.0 is equivalent to >=0.0.0 <0.1.0
^0 is equivalent to >=0.0.0 <1.0.0

Taken from https://github.com/Masterminds/semver (opens new window)