^ (Caret) and ~ (Tilde) in package.json

You must have seen at least once package.json file throughout your developer journey. package.json is a file that contains information about a project, among which are project dependencies and their corresponding versions. But then, you must have noticed that some versions have ^ (caret) or ~ (tilde) in front of them. What are they for and what do they mean? REMINDER: x.x.x format Example: "pg": "8.7.3" The x.x.x format you see in version numbers follows this structure: MAJOR.MINOR.PATCH So, in the example above: 8 - MAJOR 7 - MINOR 3 - PATCH ~ (Tilde) - Patch Updates Allows only patch updates within the same minor version. "mongoose": "~6.2.2" Allows updates up to 6.2.x, but not 6.3.0. Here, it will install new versions like 6.2.3, 6.2.7, 6.2.9, but it will not install 6.3.0. Why use ~? For backend libraries, especially security-related ones, developers often want to allow only patch updates to avoid breaking API changes. ^ (Caret) - Minor and Patch Updates Allows updates only within the same major version, meaning it allows only minor and patch updates. "react": "^18.2.0" Allows 18.2.0 up to 18.x.x, but not 19.0.0. Here it will install new versions like 18.2.3, 18.3.4, 18.5.2, 18.8.6, but it will not install 19.0.0. Why use ^? Frontend libraries frequently release minor updates, so ^ helps get the latest bug fixes and performance improvements without breaking the major version. Summary Symbol Example Allowed Updates ^ ^4.17.21 4.17.21 → 4.x.x (not 5.0.0) ~ ~4.17.1 4.17.1 → 4.17.x (not 4.18.0)

Mar 6, 2025 - 13:20

You must have seen at least once package.json file throughout your developer journey.
package.json is a file that contains information about a project, among which are project dependencies and their corresponding versions.
But then, you must have noticed that some versions have ^ (caret) or ~ (tilde) in front of them. What are they for and what do they mean?

REMINDER: x.x.x format

Example:

"pg": "8.7.3"

The x.x.x format you see in version numbers follows this structure:

MAJOR.MINOR.PATCH

So, in the example above:

8 - MAJOR
7 - MINOR
3 - PATCH

`~` (Tilde) - Patch Updates

Allows only patch updates within the same minor version.

"mongoose": "~6.2.2"

Allows updates up to 6.2.x, but not 6.3.0.
Here, it will install new versions like 6.2.3, 6.2.7, 6.2.9, but it will not install 6.3.0.

Why use `~`?

For backend libraries, especially security-related ones, developers often want to allow only patch updates to avoid breaking API changes.

`^` (Caret) - Minor and Patch Updates

Allows updates only within the same major version, meaning it allows only minor and patch updates.

"react": "^18.2.0"

Allows 18.2.0 up to 18.x.x, but not 19.0.0.
Here it will install new versions like 18.2.3, 18.3.4, 18.5.2, 18.8.6, but it will not install 19.0.0.

Why use `^`?

Frontend libraries frequently release minor updates, so ^ helps get the latest bug fixes and performance improvements without breaking the major version.

Summary

Symbol	Example	Allowed Updates
`^`	`^4.17.21`	`4.17.21` → `4.x.x` (not `5.0.0`)
`~`	`~4.17.1`	`4.17.1` → `4.17.x` (not `4.18.0`)