The best examples of real examples of semantic versioning in software updates

Real examples of semantic versioning in software updates you actually see

Let’s skip the abstract talk and start with the examples of real examples of semantic versioning in software updates that show up in everyday tools.

Think of a version number as three parts: MAJOR.MINOR.PATCH.

• MAJOR: Breaking changes
• MINOR: New features, but backward compatible
• PATCH: Bug fixes and small, safe tweaks

The best examples come from widely used open-source projects that document their versioning rules clearly.

Node.js: Long-term support and carefully labeled breaking changes

Node.js is one of the cleanest examples of real examples of semantic versioning in software updates at scale.

• MAJOR: Node 18 → Node 20 (e.g., 18.20.4 to 20.11.0)

  • These jumps often remove deprecated APIs, change default behavior, or update the underlying V8 engine in ways that might break existing apps.
  • Node publishes detailed release notes and support timelines on the official site: https://nodejs.org/en/about/releases/

• MINOR: 20.10.0 → 20.11.0

  • Adds new features like updated language features from V8, new flags, or improvements to built-in modules.
  • Intended to be backward compatible, so existing apps should keep working.

• PATCH: 20.11.0 → 20.11.1

  • Security fixes, memory leak fixes, and small bug patches.
  • Safe for production in most cases and typically recommended as soon as available.

Node’s predictable versioning is one of the best examples of how semantic versioning supports long-term support (LTS) schedules. Teams can plan migrations around major versions, while treating minor and patch releases as safer upgrades.

React: From 17.x to 18.x to 19.x

React, the UI library from Meta, offers another strong example of semantic versioning in real life.

• React 17.x → 18.0.0

  • React 18 introduced concurrent rendering features and new APIs like createRoot.
  • The jump from 17 to 18 signaled that some patterns might need updates, even though the React team worked hard to minimize breakage.

• 18.0.0 → 18.2.0

  • Minor releases added improvements and new capabilities but kept compatibility with existing 18.x apps.

• 18.2.0 → 18.2.1 (hypothetical patch)

  • Patch releases are mainly bug fixes and performance tweaks.

As React 19 stabilizes (its release process has been ongoing through 2024–2025), the version jump again signals that developers should read the migration guide carefully before upgrading. This is one of the best examples of real examples of semantic versioning in software updates in the front-end world, because the ecosystem is huge and breaking changes ripple quickly.

npm packages: express, lodash, and the ecosystem effect

Semantic versioning really shows its power in the npm ecosystem, where a small change can affect thousands of downstream projects.

Take Express, a popular Node.js web framework:

• From 4.18.2 to 4.19.0 (MINOR)

  • Adds features or options while keeping APIs backward compatible.

• From 4.19.0 to 4.19.1 (PATCH)

  • Fixes bugs discovered in the previous release.

• A future jump from 4.x.x to 5.0.0 (MAJOR)

  • Indicates that route handling, middleware behavior, or request/response objects may change in ways that can break apps.

Or lodash, a utility library that many projects depend on:

• 4.17.20 → 4.17.21 is a classic patch example: security fixes and small improvements with no intentional breaking changes.

These libraries are good examples of real examples of semantic versioning in software updates because they’re used as dependencies. A MAJOR bump signals, “Check your code and your lockfiles,” while a PATCH bump says, “Install this soon; it’s probably safer than what you have now.”

Python: When versioning and language evolution collide

Python’s versioning is a bit more complex historically, but recent releases still illustrate semver-like thinking.

• Python 3.10 → 3.11 → 3.12

  • These are effectively MAJOR-level changes in terms of features and performance, but within the Python 3 series they’re treated as minor from a branding standpoint.
  • Python 3.11 introduced large performance improvements; 3.12 continued cleanup and deprecations.

• Patch releases like 3.12.1, 3.12.2

  • Focus on bug fixes and security issues.

The Python community maintains detailed version and lifecycle information at https://devguide.python.org/versions/ (a good reference if you’re writing or maintaining documentation). While not always strict semver, Python’s patch releases behave very much like the patch part of semantic versioning.

Kubernetes: Fast-moving infrastructure with clear signals

Kubernetes is another of the best examples of semantic versioning in a complex, cloud-native world.

• MAJOR: 1.x.y → 2.0.0 (not yet as of 2025, but this would indicate major architectural or API changes)

• MINOR: 1.29.0 → 1.30.0

  • Adds new APIs, features, and sometimes deprecates old ones.
  • Still intended to be backward compatible for a deprecation window.

• PATCH: 1.30.0 → 1.30.2

  • Critical bug fixes, security issues, and stability improvements.

Kubernetes publishes version and support policies at https://kubernetes.io/releases/. For teams running clusters in production, these real examples of semantic versioning in software updates impact upgrade windows, cluster planning, and compliance.

Web browsers: Chrome and Firefox as practical case studies

Modern browsers don’t always follow strict semver, but you can still see similar patterns.

Google Chrome

• MAJOR-like: 119.0.x → 120.0.x → 121.0.x

  • Major milestones often include larger feature sets, UI changes, or platform capabilities.

• MINOR/PATCH-like: 120.0.6099.0 → 120.0.6099.1

  • Security patches and stability fixes.

Chrome’s rapid release cycle means version numbers climb fast, but the principle is the same: larger jumps mean more change.

Mozilla Firefox

Firefox maintains detailed release notes at https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/releases/. While it doesn’t strictly advertise semantic versioning, you can still treat big version jumps as more risky and point releases as safer.

For documentation writers and IT admins, these browsers provide practical examples of real examples of semantic versioning in software updates, even when the naming is more marketing-driven than pure semver.

Productivity apps: VS Code as a friendly example of semantic versioning

Visual Studio Code (VS Code) is one of the best examples of semantic versioning that non-developers still notice.

• MAJOR: 1.x.y has been stable for years; Microsoft has kept the major version at 1 while shipping huge feature sets via minor releases. If VS Code ever jumps to 2.0.0, expect major UX or extension API shifts.

• MINOR: 1.89.0 → 1.90.0 → 1.91.0

  • Monthly feature releases: new editor capabilities, settings, and extension APIs.

• PATCH: 1.90.0 → 1.90.1 → 1.90.2

  • Quick bug fixes after a big monthly drop.

Even if VS Code doesn’t market itself strictly as “we use SemVer,” the pattern behaves similarly, and users learn to treat .0 releases as feature-heavy and .1 or .2 as stabilization.

Why these real examples of semantic versioning in software updates matter for documentation

If you write software user guides or maintain internal IT documentation, reading version numbers correctly is half your job.

Some practical ways to use these examples:

• When a project moves from 1.9.5 to 2.0.0, treat it as a breaking-change event. Plan migration notes, update screenshots, and flag older instructions as version-specific.
• When you see 3.4.2 → 3.4.3, you can usually mark it as safe to adopt, especially if the release notes say “bug fixes” or “security updates.”
• For 1.5.0 → 1.6.0, look for new features to highlight in your user guide while keeping existing steps valid.

The best examples of real examples of semantic versioning in software updates—Node.js, React, Kubernetes, npm libraries—also tend to have strong release notes. Linking those in your documentation gives readers a clear path to more detail without bloating your own guide.

Common patterns you’ll notice across the best examples

Across all these examples of real examples of semantic versioning in software updates, a few patterns repeat:

• Major jumps often align with deprecations becoming removals.

  • An API marked “deprecated” in 1.8.x might disappear in 2.0.0.

• Minor releases are where innovation lands.

  • Features, enhancements, and new configuration options usually appear here.

• Patch releases are where reliability improves.

  • Security, bug fixes, and performance tweaks with minimal behavior change.

When you’re evaluating a release for risk, the examples above give you a mental model: MAJOR = migration, MINOR = exploration, PATCH = stabilization.

How to spot good vs. bad uses of semantic versioning

Not every project follows semantic versioning strictly, but the best examples share a few traits:

• They document their versioning policy publicly.
• They maintain clear changelogs tied to each version.
• They avoid sneaking breaking changes into patch releases.

If you see a project jump from 1.4.2 to 1.4.3 and suddenly your code breaks, that’s not a good example of semantic versioning. Compare that with Node.js or Kubernetes, where breaking changes are loudly announced alongside major or minor bumps.

For technical writers, this difference determines how much you can trust the version number when deciding whether to retest workflows or simply update a note.

FAQ: Short answers with real-world context

What are some common examples of semantic versioning in popular software?

Common examples include Node.js (18.20.4 → 20.11.0), React (17.x → 18.0.0), npm packages like Express (4.18.2 → 4.19.0), Kubernetes (1.29.0 → 1.30.0), and tools like VS Code (1.89.0 → 1.90.0). All of these show how MAJOR, MINOR, and PATCH changes map to real-world impact.

Can you give an example of a breaking change signaled by a major version bump?

A classic example of a breaking change is the jump from Python 2 to Python 3, where syntax and standard library behavior changed in incompatible ways. In the stricter semver world, a move from Express 4.x.x to 5.0.0 would be another example of a major version indicating potential breakage.

Are minor updates always safe to install?

Minor updates are intended to be backward compatible, but they introduce new features, which can surface new bugs. The best practice, based on the real examples of semantic versioning in software updates above, is to read the release notes and test in a staging environment, especially for infrastructure tools like Kubernetes.

How do patch versions affect user documentation?

Patch versions usually don’t require big documentation rewrites. They mostly address bugs, security issues, or small behavior corrections. For example, moving from Node 20.11.0 to 20.11.1 might only need a short note in your release section, not a full walkthrough update.

Why do some projects ignore semantic versioning rules?

Sometimes teams prioritize marketing, speed, or legacy habits over strict rules. Browsers and mobile apps often bump versions quickly for branding reasons. Even then, you can still borrow the mindset from the best examples of semantic versioning in software updates: treat bigger jumps as higher risk and smaller jumps as lower risk, then adjust your testing and documentation effort accordingly.