How to compare software version number using js? (only number)

Here is the software version number:

"1.0", "1.0.1", "2.0", "2.0.0.1", "2.0.1"

How can I compare this?? Assume the correct order is:

"1.0", "1.0.1", "2.0", "2.0.0.1", "2.0.1"

The idea is simple...: Read the first digit, than, the second, after that the third.... But I can't convert the version number to float number.... You also can see the version number like this:

"1.0.0.0", "1.0.1.0", "2.0.0.0", "2.0.0.1", "2.0.1.0"

and this is more clear to see what is the idea behind... But, how to convert it into a computer program?? Do any one have any idea on how to sorting this? Thank you.


The basic idea to make this comparison would be to use Array.split to get arrays of parts from the input strings and then compare pairs of parts from the two arrays; if the parts are not equal we know which version is smaller.

There are a few of important details to keep in mind:

  1. How should the parts in each pair be compared? The question wants to compare numerically, but what if we have version strings that are not made up of just digits (e.g. "1.0a")?
  2. What should happen if one version string has more parts than the other? Most likely "1.0" should be considered less than "1.0.1", but what about "1.0.0"?

Here's the code for an implementation that you can use directly (gist with documentation):

function versionCompare(v1, v2, options) {
    var lexicographical = options && options.lexicographical,
        zeroExtend = options && options.zeroExtend,
        v1parts = v1.split('.'),
        v2parts = v2.split('.');

    function isValidPart(x) {
        return (lexicographical ? /^\d+[A-Za-z]*$/ : /^\d+$/).test(x);
    }

    if (!v1parts.every(isValidPart) || !v2parts.every(isValidPart)) {
        return NaN;
    }

    if (zeroExtend) {
        while (v1parts.length < v2parts.length) v1parts.push("0");
        while (v2parts.length < v1parts.length) v2parts.push("0");
    }

    if (!lexicographical) {
        v1parts = v1parts.map(Number);
        v2parts = v2parts.map(Number);
    }

    for (var i = 0; i < v1parts.length; ++i) {
        if (v2parts.length == i) {
            return 1;
        }

        if (v1parts[i] == v2parts[i]) {
            continue;
        }
        else if (v1parts[i] > v2parts[i]) {
            return 1;
        }
        else {
            return -1;
        }
    }

    if (v1parts.length != v2parts.length) {
        return -1;
    }

    return 0;
}

This version compares parts naturally, does not accept character suffixes and considers "1.7" to be smaller than "1.7.0". The comparison mode can be changed to lexicographical and shorter version strings can be automatically zero-padded using the optional third argument.

There is a JSFiddle that runs "unit tests" here; it is a slightly expanded version of ripper234's work (thank you).

Important note: This code uses Array.map and Array.every, which means that it will not run in IE versions earlier than 9. If you need to support those you will have to provide polyfills for the missing methods.


semver

The semantic version parser used by npm.

$ npm install semver

var semver = require('semver');

semver.diff('3.4.5', '4.3.7') //'major'
semver.diff('3.4.5', '3.3.7') //'minor'
semver.gte('3.4.8', '3.4.7') //true
semver.ltr('3.4.8', '3.4.7') //false

semver.valid('1.2.3') // '1.2.3'
semver.valid('a.b.c') // null
semver.clean(' =v1.2.3 ') // '1.2.3'
semver.satisfies('1.2.3', '1.x || >=2.5.0 || 5.0.0 - 7.2.3') // true
semver.gt('1.2.3', '9.8.7') // false
semver.lt('1.2.3', '9.8.7') // true

var versions = [ '1.2.3', '3.4.5', '1.0.2' ]
var max = versions.sort(semver.rcompare)[0]
var min = versions.sort(semver.compare)[0]
var max = semver.maxSatisfying(versions, '*')

Semantic Versioning Link :
https://www.npmjs.com/package/semver#prerelease-identifiers