The Semver Comparator compares two semantic version strings and tells you which is greater, whether they are equal, or which is less. Semantic versioning (semver) is the standard format used by npm, Composer, Cargo, and most modern package managers to express software release versions. Understanding version precedence is essential when managing dependencies, writing version constraints, planning upgrades, and auditing changelogs. Enter two version strings — including optional pre-release and build metadata — and get an instant comparison. All processing runs in your browser with no data sent to any server.
About Semver Comparator
Semantic versioning uses a three-part number format: major.minor.patch (e.g. 2.4.1). The major version increments for breaking changes, minor for backward-compatible features, and patch for backward-compatible bug fixes. Optional pre-release identifiers (e.g. 1.0.0-alpha, 2.0.0-rc.1) indicate versions that precede the associated release. Build metadata (e.g. +build.42) is ignored in precedence comparisons per the semver spec. This tool parses both version strings, applies the official semver precedence rules, and reports whether A is less than, equal to, or greater than B.
How to Use Semver Comparator
- Enter Version A and Version B (e.g.
1.2.3and2.0.0, or1.0.0-alphaand1.0.0). - Click Compare. The result shows whether A < B, A = B, or A > B.
- Use the result to make informed decisions about dependency upgrades, version constraints, or release ordering.
Key Features
- Compares any two semver-compliant version strings
- Supports pre-release identifiers (alpha, beta, rc, etc.) with correct precedence
- Ignores build metadata per the semver specification
- Clear result: A < B, A = B, or A > B
- Entirely browser-based — no data sent to any server
When to Use This Tool
- Checking whether one dependency version is newer than another
- Validating version constraints in package.json, composer.json, or Cargo.toml
- Determining whether a pre-release version precedes or follows a stable release
- Auditing changelogs to understand the ordering of releases
- Learning how semver precedence rules work with pre-release tags
Technical Details
Comparison follows the rules defined in the Semantic Versioning 2.0.0 specification. Major, minor, and patch are compared numerically. If those are equal, a version with a pre-release tag has lower precedence than the same version without one (e.g. 1.0.0-alpha < 1.0.0). Pre-release identifiers are compared left to right: numeric identifiers are compared as integers, alphanumeric identifiers are compared lexically. Build metadata (anything after +) is stripped before comparison. The parser runs in JavaScript within your browser. For related developer utilities, try the JSON Formatter or .gitignore Generator.
Conclusion
Correct version comparison is critical for dependency management, release planning, and upgrade decisions. This free, browser-based Semver Comparator applies the official semver precedence rules to give you an instant, accurate answer — no installation, no sign-up, and no data leaving your device.