What is the difference between caret (^) and tilde (~) in SemVer?

The caret (^) allows minor and patch updates for 1.0.0 and above without changing the left-most non-zero digit. For version 0.x (e.g. ^0.2.3), it freezes the minor version and only allows patch updates (>=0.2.3 =1.2.3 <1.3.0).

How does SemVer 2.0.0 handle pre-release precedence?

A normal version like 1.0.0 has higher precedence than a pre-release like 1.0.0-alpha.1. Pre-release identifiers are compared lexicographically or numerically, separated by dots.

What is the difference between caret (^) and tilde (~) in SemVer?

The caret allows minor and patch updates for 1.0.0 and above, while freezing minor on 0.x. Tilde strictly allows patch updates only.

🛡️ Pure Client-Side V8 Engine • Zero Network Tracking • SemVer 2.0.0 Strict Spec

SemVer Calculator & Range Tester

Test npm, Cargo, and PyPI dependency version ranges. Demystify caret (^) vs. tilde (~) rules, preview automatic release bumps, and verify version precedence in milliseconds.

⚡ Quick Presets:

🎯 1. Range Satisfaction Tester

Target Range vs Candidate

SemVer Range Expression

Supports ^, ~, >=, <=, >, <, =, and x-ranges

Candidate Version

Version you want to test against range

SATISFIES Resolved: >= 1.2.3 < 2.0.0

Version 1.3.0 matches ^1.2.3 because it introduces backwards-compatible minor changes.

🚀 2. Next Release Bump Generator

CI/CD Semantic Release

Current Base Version

Patch (Bug Fix) 2.4.2 Backwards compatible

Minor (Feature) 2.5.0 New feature, non-breaking

Major (Breaking) 3.0.0 Incompatible API change

Pre-Patch (Alpha) 2.4.2-alpha.0

Pre-Minor (Alpha) 2.5.0-alpha.0

Pre-Major (Alpha) 3.0.0-alpha.0

⚖️ 3. Direct Two-Version Comparator

Precedence & Diff Type

Version A

Version B

Comparison Result: 1.0.0 > 1.0.0-alpha.1 (Pre-release difference)

Export Code Snippets Ready to Paste

"my-package": "^1.2.3"

Caret (^) Semantics: Allows minor & patch

Caret on 0.x.x (^0.2.3): Freezes minor (< 0.3.0)

Tilde (~) Semantics: Allows patch only

Wildcard (1.x / 1.*): >= 1.0.0 < 2.0.0

Mastering Semantic Versioning (SemVer 2.0.0) Specification

1. The Zero-Major Trap

In SemVer, major version zero (0.y.z) is for initial rapid development. Anything MAY change at any time. Consequently, npm caret behavior freezes at the left-most non-zero digit: `^0.2.3` only permits `< 0.3.0`, whereas `^1.2.3` permits `< 2.0.0`.

2. Caret (^) vs. Tilde (~)

Tilde (`~1.2.3`) is conservative: it promises only patch fixes (`>= 1.2.3 < 1.3.0`). Caret (`^1.2.3`) is the npm default: it assumes minor releases never break backwards compatibility (`>= 1.2.3 < 2.0.0`).

3. Pre-release Precedence

A pre-release version indicates that the version is unstable and might not satisfy intended compatibility requirements. Normal version `1.0.0` has greater precedence than `1.0.0-beta.1`.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is SemVer Calculator & Dependency Range Tester free to use?

Yes, SemVer Calculator & Dependency Range Tester is completely free with no signup or registration required. All processing happens directly in your browser.

Is my data safe?

Absolutely. Your data never leaves your device. Everything runs locally in your browser — no uploads, no servers, no tracking.

Do I need to install anything?

No installation needed. SemVer Calculator & Dependency Range Tester works entirely in your web browser on both desktop and mobile devices.

How do I use

Simply enter or paste your input in the tool above, and the result will be generated instantly. No configuration required.