Semantic Versioning (SemVer) Diff Comparator
The problem: Determining whether a dependency upgrade will break a project or understanding npm package.json range resolution causes release bugs.
ASG Privacy VerifiedVerified
100% In-Browser Execution. Zero server uploads. Your data never leaves this tab — disconnect your internet and the tool keeps working.
Semantic Versioning (SemVer) Diff Comparator: the complete guide
A Semantic Versioning (SemVer 2.0.0) Diff Comparator and Dependency Analyzer compares software release numbers to categorize version bumps (MAJOR, MINOR, PATCH, or PRERELEASE) and evaluate breaking change risks. Frontend and backend developers auditing package.json dependency updates or publishing open-source npm/PyPI packages must adhere strictly to SemVer rules to avoid breaking downstream consumers. This tool explains version differences and evaluates npm caret (^) and tilde (~) range satisfaction.
The Three Pillars of SemVer: Major.Minor.Patch
Under the SemVer 2.0.0 specification: MAJOR version bumps (e.g. 1.0.0 to 2.0.0) indicate incompatible API changes requiring downstream code updates; MINOR bumps (e.g. 1.1.0 to 1.2.0) introduce backward-compatible new functionality; and PATCH bumps (e.g. 1.0.1 to 1.0.2) deliver backward-compatible bug fixes and security patches.
NPM Caret (^) vs. Tilde (~) Range Resolution
In npm package.json manifests, the caret symbol (^1.2.3) permits automatic upgrades that do not modify the left-most non-zero digit (allowing 1.3.0 and 1.9.9, but rejecting 2.0.0). The tilde symbol (~1.2.3) is more conservative, only allowing patch-level updates (accepting 1.2.4, but rejecting 1.3.0). This comparator validates whether a target version satisfies either prefix.
Step by step: how to use SemVer Diff
- 1
Input your current package version (Version A, e.g., 1.4.2).
- 2
Input the target or proposed release version (Version B, e.g., 2.0.0).
- 3
Alternatively, select a quick bump preset (Patch, Minor, Major, Prerelease).
- 4
Review the classified bump type and breaking change risk assessment.
- 5
Check whether the upgrade satisfies npm caret (^) and tilde (~) dependencies.
Security & privacy
All version parsing and numerical comparisons run in client-side memory using pure regex algorithms. No package.json files or proprietary dependency trees are sent to external servers.