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# Version

A version according to the semantic versioning specification.

```
struct Version
```

## Overview

A package version consists of three integers separated by periods, for example `1.0.0`. It must conform to the semantic versioning standard in order to ensure
that your package behaves in a predictable manner once developers update their
package dependency to a newer version. To achieve predictability, the semantic versioning specification proposes a set of rules and
requirements that dictate how version numbers are assigned and incremented. To learn more about the semantic versioning specification, visit
[Semantic Versioning 2.0.0](https://semver.org).

- The major version: The first digit of a version, or *major version*,
  signifies breaking changes to the API that require updates to existing
  clients. For example, the semantic versioning specification considers
  renaming an existing type, removing a method, or changing a method’s
  signature breaking changes. This also includes any backward-incompatible bug
  fixes or behavioral changes of the existing API.
- The minor version:
  Update the second digit of a version, or *minor version*, if you add
  functionality in a backward-compatible manner. For example, the semantic
  versioning specification considers adding a new method or type without
  changing any other API to be backward-compatible.
- The patch version:
  Increase the third digit of a version, or *patch version*, if you’re making
  a backward-compatible bug fix. This allows clients to benefit from bugfixes
  to your package without incurring any maintenance burden.

## Topics

### Creating a new version

[`init(_:_:_:prereleaseIdentifiers:buildMetadataIdentifiers:)`](/documentation/PackageDescription/Version/init(_:_:_:prereleaseIdentifiers:buildMetadataIdentifiers:))

Initializes a version struct with the provided components of a semantic version.

### Inspecting a version

[`major`](/documentation/PackageDescription/Version/major)

The major version according to the semantic versioning standard.

[`minor`](/documentation/PackageDescription/Version/minor)

The minor version according to the semantic versioning standard.

[`patch`](/documentation/PackageDescription/Version/patch)

The patch version according to the semantic versioning standard.

[`prereleaseIdentifiers`](/documentation/PackageDescription/Version/prereleaseIdentifiers)

The pre-release identifier according to the semantic versioning standard, such as `-beta.1`.

[`buildMetadataIdentifiers`](/documentation/PackageDescription/Version/buildMetadataIdentifiers)

The build metadata of this version according to the semantic versioning standard, such as a commit hash.


---

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