Understand NPM Version: A Beginner’s Guide to Semantic Versioning

The JavaScript ecosystem needs a safe and healthy way of functioning without disrupting functions. This is where Semantic Versioning in the Node Package Manager comes in. Mostly popular for open-source projects, SemVer allows swift communication between version releases and changes. If you are a developer, knowing how semantic versioning works is important. 

In this blog, we will discuss how SemVer helps the NPM version and more. 

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What is SemVer in NPM? 

SemVer, or semantic versioning, serves as a bridge between producers and consumers of packages. It provides important information about software releases and how much risk an upgrade poses. It is called ‘Semantic’ because each number denotes a different meaning. 

When you make changes in an NPM package, SemVer shows the change and its implications. This is useful in change tracking, release management, and version dependencies. 

What are the Parts of Semantic Versioning? 

Semantic versioning in NPM has three parts: Major, Minor, and Patch. They are essentially numbers separated by dots. These numbers help users understand each version’s significance. 

• Major NPM Version 

The major version denotes a backwards-incompatible change to the code. This means that the developer has made breaking changes to the code, hence the name major. The first number denotes the major version in an NPM version code. 

Therefore, when the major number changes in the version of the node, it implies that the software is incompatible with previous versions. 

Let us understand this with an example. Suppose your software is 1.0.0, and after changing certain input parameters, your version is now 2.0.0. This addresses the breaking change you made in the code. 

• Minor NPM Version 

A minor node version refers to adding new features to pre-existing code. These could be improvements to existing features or significant enhancements. They are compatible with older versions, making them backward compatible. The second number in the version code denotes this part. 

For example, when the version changes from 1.0.0 to 1.1.0, it indicates a minor change. You can add or subtract any feature and see this change. 

• Patch NPM Version 

The patch version’s role is to indicate bug fixes. It is backward compatible and is generally small. When you address minor security issues or fixes in the code, the patch version is updated. The last digit indicates the patch version. 

To understand it simply, let us consider a scenario. Suppose you make a minor change by enhancing an already existing software feature. However, you discover there is an issue.  To address this bug, you must update your version 1.2.0 to 1.2.1. 

What is the Role of the Caret in the NPM Version?

While understanding the three parts of semantic versioning is necessary, knowing what certain symbols mean will help you properly understand the NPM version. There are two main symbols: the Caret (^) and the Tilde (~). 

A caret (^) symbol before your package.json file indicates that the software does not allow major version changes. Only minor and patch changes are permissible. 

What is the Role of the Tilde in NPM? 

The tilde (~) symbol, on the other hand, only allows patch changes. However, all changes should have the same major and minor versions. 

Also Read:- Understanding Sequences in Python: Lists, Tuples, and Strings

What is Version Drift? 

Version drift occurs when developers see different versions of the same application dependency. This often leads to inconsistencies, which are hard to debug. To combat this issue, SemVer introduced a feature called ‘package-lock’. This is available in NPM version 5. With this, you can preserve the versions of your installed dependencies. 

Whenever you update, install or make any changes, the package-lock feature saves them. Without this feature, whenever you install any updates to your dependencies, they will be installed in the latest version of the node. 

Why is SemVer a Popular Choice? 

Since its introduction in 2014, SemVer has quickly gained popularity. Here are the reasons for the same:

• Breaking or Non-Breaking Change: Semantic versioning helps developers and consumers understand what change was implemented. Just a glance at the version number provides this information. 
• Easy to Use: It is easy to use and follow, helping in tracking changes. 
• Avoiding Dependency Hell: Developers call dependency hell when various dependencies share version numbers with other dependencies. However, SemVer helps to escape this hell by providing a snapshot of all dependencies and their associated versions. This makes it easy for the package to run in other environments. 

Final Thoughts 

Semantic versioning is not the only way of versioning in NPM. However, it is one of the most popular, as it is easy to follow. It allows communication, compatibility, and reliable release management. When thinking about the NPM version, SemVer comes to mind first. 

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