# CMAKE_VERSION

The CMake version string as three non-negative integer components separated by `.` and possibly followed by `-` and other information. The first two components represent the feature level and the third component represents either a bug-fix level or development date.

Release versions and release candidate versions of CMake use the format:

    <major>.<minor>.<patch>[-rc<n>]

where the `<patch>` component is less than `20000000`. Development versions of CMake use the format:

    <major>.<minor>.<date>[-<id>]

where the `<date>` component is of format `CCYYMMDD` and `<id>` may contain arbitrary text. This represents development as of a particular date following the `<major>.<minor>` feature release.

Individual component values are also available in variables:

- `CMAKE_MAJOR_VERSION`
- `CMAKE_MINOR_VERSION`
- `CMAKE_PATCH_VERSION`
- `CMAKE_TWEAK_VERSION`

Use the `if()` command `VERSION_LESS`, `VERSION_EQUAL`, or `VERSION_GREATER` operators to compare version string values against `CMAKE_VERSION` using a component-wise test. Version component values may be 10 or larger so do not attempt to compare version strings as floating-point numbers.

Note

CMake versions 2.8.2 through 2.8.12 used three components for the feature level. Release versions represented the bug-fix level in a fourth component, i.e. `<major>.<minor>.<patch>[.<tweak>][-rc<n>]`. Development versions represented the development date in the fourth component, i.e. `<major>.<minor>.<patch>.<date>[-<id>]`.

CMake versions prior to 2.8.2 used three components for the feature level and had no bug-fix component. Release versions used an even-valued second component, i.e. `<major>.<even-minor>.<patch>[-rc<n>]`. Development versions used an odd-valued second component with the development date as the third component, i.e. `<major>.<odd-minor>.<date>`.

The `CMAKE_VERSION` variable is defined by CMake 2.6.3 and higher. Earlier versions defined only the individual component variables.