What are Software Version Numbers?
Software version numbers are a way to identify and track changes in a software application over time. They provide a unique identifier for each version of the software, allowing users and developers to distinguish between different releases.
- Version numbers typically consist of a series of numbers separated by dots (e.g., 1.2.3).
- Each number in the series represents a specific level of change or update.
Understanding Version Numbering Schemes
There are several version numbering schemes in use, including:
- Semantic Versioning (SemVer): a widely-used scheme that consists of three parts: major, minor, and patch versions.
- Sequential Versioning: a simple incremental scheme where each new version is assigned a sequential number.
Semantic Versioning (SemVer)
SemVer is a popular version numbering scheme that consists of three parts: major, minor, and patch versions. The format is: MAJOR.MINOR.PATCH.
- Major version: incremented for significant changes that break backwards compatibility.
- Minor version: incremented for new features or enhancements that maintain backwards compatibility.
- Patch version: incremented for bug fixes or minor updates.