Major Minor Patch Releases

Major minor patch releases form the foundation of semantic versioning, providing a structured way to communicate change impact to design system consumers. Each version segment carries specific meaning about what changes are included and what upgrade effort consumers should expect. Understanding when to increment each segment ensures version numbers accurately reflect the nature of changes.

What Are Major Minor Patch Releases

The three segments of a semantic version number each serve a distinct purpose. The major version (first number) increments when changes break backwards compatibility. The minor version (second number) increments when new features are added without breaking existing functionality. The patch version (third number) increments for backwards-compatible bug fixes.

A version like 2.5.3 indicates the second major release, with five feature additions since that major release, and three bug fixes since the last feature addition. This structure allows teams to quickly assess upgrade risk by looking at which segment changed between their current version and the latest available.

How Major Minor Patch Releases Work

The versioning process begins with categorizing changes by their impact on existing consumers. This categorization determines which version segment to increment for the next release.

Patch releases address bugs without changing the public API or adding new capabilities. Examples include fixing a visual glitch, correcting an accessibility issue that does not change interaction patterns, or improving internal performance. Consumers can adopt patch releases with confidence that no code changes are needed.

Minor releases introduce new functionality in a backwards-compatible manner. Adding a new optional prop, introducing a new component, or exposing additional customization hooks all warrant minor version increments. Existing code continues working after the upgrade, though consumers may choose to adopt the new features.

Major releases contain changes that require consumer code modifications. Removing deprecated features, renaming APIs, changing required dependencies, or altering fundamental behavior all constitute breaking changes. Major releases should include migration guides and potentially codemods to help consumers update their code.

Key Considerations

• A release can only increment one version segment, choosing the highest applicable
• Pre-release versions (alpha, beta, rc) allow testing before stable releases
• The zero major version (0.x.x) indicates initial development with unstable API
• Deprecation warnings should precede removal in major releases
• Release notes should clearly explain changes and their impact

Common Questions

What happens when a release includes both features and breaking changes?

When a single release contains multiple types of changes, the version increment follows the highest-impact change. If a release includes bug fixes, new features, and a breaking change, it becomes a major version release. The minor and patch segments reset to zero.

For example, moving from 2.5.3 to a release with breaking changes results in version 3.0.0, regardless of how many features or bug fixes are also included. This convention ensures the major version clearly signals that upgrade effort is required.

Should visual changes trigger major version increments?

Visual changes do not strictly require major versions according to semver, which focuses on programmatic API compatibility. However, design systems exist to provide visual consistency, so drastic visual changes can break consumer expectations even when code remains compatible.

Many design system teams establish conventions for visual changes. Minor visual refinements may warrant patch or minor versions. Significant redesigns that alter component appearance substantially may warrant major versions, especially if consumers have visual regression tests that would fail. The key is documenting the team’s conventions clearly.

Summary

Major minor patch releases provide a communication framework for design system changes. Major versions signal breaking changes requiring migration effort. Minor versions add features without breaking existing usage. Patch versions fix bugs while maintaining compatibility. Consistent application of these conventions enables consumers to make informed upgrade decisions.