Semantic Version Comparator
Input two semver strings, determine which is greater, and get a step-by-step explanation per semver rules.
How to use this tool
- 1Enter Version A and Version B in the input fields (e.g. 1.2.3 or 2.0.0-beta.1).
- 2Click Compare.
- 3The result shows which version is greater with a step-by-step breakdown.
About Semantic Version Comparator
This semver comparator ranks two version strings and explains the comparison step by step per semantic versioning rules.
Pre-releases and build metadata confuse upgrade decisions. An explained compare beats arguing in Slack.
Enter Version A and Version B in the input fields (e.g. 1.2.3 or 2.0.0-beta.1). Click Compare. The result shows which version is greater with a step-by-step breakdown. Processing stays in your browser.
Use it for release trains and dependency bumps. Not all projects follow SemVer strictly.
Pre-releases sort before releases. Build metadata does not affect precedence. Confirm your project’s actual policy.
Close the tab when you finish so sensitive input is not left in page memory.
Code examples
JavaScript
// Compare two semver strings
function semverGt(a, b) {
const pa = a.split(".").map(Number);
const pb = b.split(".").map(Number);
for (let i = 0; i < 3; i++) {
if (pa[i] > pb[i]) return true;
if (pa[i] < pb[i]) return false;
}
return false;
}
// semverGt("2.1.0", "2.0.9") → truenpm / Node
# Check if installed version satisfies range
npx semver 2.1.0 -r ">=2.0.0 <3.0.0"
# Get latest satisfying version
npx semver 1.2.3 2.0.0 2.1.0 -r "^2" --include-prereleaseFrequently asked questions
Different tools use different definitions and parsers, so small gaps are common. Semantic Version Comparator applies browser-native parsers and encoders appropriate to the job with one consistent browser-side rule set. Hidden characters, stricter syntax, or a different tokenizer usually explain the mismatch. Reduce the input to a minimal sample, then add pieces back until the difference appears. Match the rule your destination actually enforces.
Treat the error as a signal that this environment is stricter or configured differently. Browser APIs reject malformed structures early instead of guessing. Convert to a boring intermediate when it helps—plain UTF-8 text, PNG, WAV, or an unlocked PDF—then retry. If the intermediate works, the original encoding was the problem. Keep that minimal sample for the next regression check.
Runtimes disagree even when feature names match. Locales, parser strictness, codec builds, and library versions differ between your browser and CI. Export the exact bytes from Semantic Version Comparator, hash them, and compare in the pipeline. Align normalization steps so both systems see the same input. Use the browser result as a reference artifact, then make CI match it.
Desktop apps win on deep feature sets, batch farms, and specialized hardware paths. Semantic Version Comparator wins on zero install, private local processing, and speed for the everyday job on this page. Choose desktop software for multi-hour editorial work or exotic edge formats. Choose this tool when you need a correct result quickly without uploading. Many people do a quick pass here first, then open the heavy suite only if an edge case demands it.
Prefer Semantic Version Comparator whenever the input is personal, unpublished, customer-owned, or under NDA, because the core transform stays in your browser via browser-native parsers and encoders appropriate to the job. Cloud services can still help for formats your browser truly cannot decode, but you must trust their retention policy. Strip secrets before any upload. Privacy is usually the reason to stay local—not a longer marketing checklist.
Start from the best original input you still have. Change only what the destination requires. Prefer lossless intermediates when you must convert twice. Because the tool is local, iterate in small steps: tweak one setting, re-run, compare. Spot-check a short sample before batching anything important.
No account is required for normal use. The core semver comparator transform runs in your browser on your device using browser-native parsers and encoders appropriate to the job. You get on-screen output, a copy action, or a download without a mandatory ToolBrigade upload for that step. Keep your browser updated. A few lookup utilities may call public reference APIs for live fields only—they still do not need your private documents.
Lighter text, code, calculator, and many image jobs work on modern phones. Large video encodes and huge PDFs are happier on a plugged-in laptop with more RAM. Fully client-side flows can continue offline once scripts are cached; live lookups still need network. If a run seems stuck, try a smaller sample, free memory by closing tabs, and confirm the input is not truncated. Prove the path on a short fixture before blaming the algorithm.