Best Free Online Developer Tools to Use in 2026
A practical, opinionated list of the best free online developer tools worth using in 2026, organized by category so you can find what you need fast.
Aug 08, 2026
Semantic Version Calculator
Calculate, validate, and compare semantic versions with pre-release labels and build metadata support.
- Home
- Utility
- Semantic Version Calculator
1.0.1
Valid SemVer
1
Major
0
Minor
0
Patch
Enter two versions to compare.
Semantic Versioning (SemVer)
Semantic Versioning follows the format: MAJOR.MINOR.PATCH
- MAJOR — Incompatible API changes
- MINOR — Backward-compatible functionality
- PATCH — Backward-compatible bug fixes
- PRE-RELEASE — e.g.,
1.0.0-alpha.1 - BUILD METADATA — e.g.,
1.0.0+build.123
What Is Semantic Versioning?
Semantic Versioning (SemVer) is a versioning scheme that uses a three-part number format: MAJOR.MINOR.PATCH. The MAJOR version increments when you make incompatible API changes, the MINOR version increments when you add backward-compatible functionality, and the PATCH version increments when you make backward-compatible bug fixes. Pre-release versions can be denoted with a hyphen and label (e.g., 1.0.0-alpha.1), and build metadata with a plus sign (e.g., 1.0.0+build.123). This calculator helps developers manage version bumps according to SemVer rules, validate existing version strings, and compare two versions to determine their relationship. It is essential for package management, release planning, and maintaining dependency compatibility.
How to Use This Tool
- Enter the current version — Type or paste the current semantic version (e.g., 1.0.0) in the input field.
- Select bump type — Choose from Major, Minor, Patch, or pre-release variants to determine the next version.
- Choose pre-release label — For pre-release bumps, select a label (alpha, beta, rc, dev, next).
- Click Calculate — The tool computes the next version following SemVer rules and displays the result.
- Compare versions — Use the version comparison section to compare two versions and see which is greater.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between Major, Minor, and Patch?
Major is for breaking changes, Minor is for new features that are backward-compatible, and Patch is for bug fixes that do not introduce new features.
What are pre-release versions?
Pre-release versions (e.g., 1.0.0-alpha.1) indicate that a version is unstable and might not satisfy compatibility requirements. They have lower precedence than normal versions.
Can I validate existing version strings?
Yes. Paste any version string into the current version field and the tool will validate it against the SemVer specification and show parsed components.
Is this tool free to use?
Yes. This tool is completely free with no usage limits or registration required.
Last updated: 17 Aug 2026
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