How to Bump Semantic Versions
SemVer Bumping
When to Bump Versions
Increment major, minor, or patch versions when preparing releases, updating package.json, or generating next Git tags. Select the bump type that matches your change: breaking changes need major, new features minor, bug fixes patch.
Bump Behavior
Major bump resets minor and patch to zero. Minor bump resets patch to zero. Patch bump increments only the patch segment. Pre-release and build metadata handling depends on tool settings — review output before tagging releases.
Developer Tips
- npm:
npm version patchfor automated package.json updates - Follow semver.org guidelines — do not bump major for backward-compatible fixes
- Strip pre-release labels when promoting to a stable release tag
Frequently asked questions
Which bump type should I choose?
Major for breaking API changes, minor for backward-compatible features, patch for backward-compatible bug fixes.
Are pre-release versions bumped?
Pre-release segments may be cleared or incremented depending on bump type. Review output before publishing.