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== asks for a specific version, >= sets an inclusive minimum with no ceiling, and ~= sets a minimum while limiting matches to a release prefix. The number of components after ~= changes that prefix: ~=3.1 allows the 3.x series from 3.1, while ~=3.1.2 allows the 3.1.x series from 3.1.2.
What do pip version specifiers mean?
Version specifiers in Python package metadata express which package versions are acceptable. A requirement can contain multiple comma-separated clauses; a version must satisfy every clause. For example, >=1.4,<2 means version 1.4 or later, while also excluding version 2 and later. The PyPA version specifiers specification defines the comparison rules.
| Specifier | What it requires | Example boundary |
|---|---|---|
==3.1 |
A strict version match, with release-segment zero-padding equivalence | Matches 3.1 and 3.1.0, not 3.1.1 |
>=3.1 |
An inclusive lower bound, with no upper bound in this clause | 3.1 and later versions can match |
~=3.1 |
A lower bound plus the 3.* release prefix |
3.1 or later within 3.x; not 4.0 |
~=3.1.2 |
A lower bound plus the 3.1.* release prefix |
3.1.2 or later within 3.1.x; not 3.2.0 |
These are acceptable-version rules, not a guarantee that a resolver will select every version that fits. Pre-release handling can affect which candidates are considered.
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Is == an exact version pin?
Yes, unless you add a trailing wildcard. ==1.1 matches 1.1 and 1.1.0, because omitted trailing release segments are treated as zero for this comparison. It does not match 1.1.1, 1.1a1, 1.1.dev1, or 1.1.post1.
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To request versions with the 1.1 release prefix, write ==1.1.*. That is a prefix match, not the same constraint as the strict ==1.1.
A strict pin can be useful for repeatable application deployments when the deployment process uses a shared package index and deliberately controls installed versions. For dependencies declared by published distributions, however, the specification strongly discourages == without a wildcard because strict pins complicate delivery of security fixes. See the PyPA specification’s guidance on version matching.
What does >= guarantee—and what does it leave open?
>=V is an inclusive lower bound under Python’s standard version ordering. A clause such as >=1.4 allows matching versions at or above 1.4, but it does not restrict how high the version may go. If the package needs a ceiling too, express one separately: >=1.4,<2. Because commas mean AND, both conditions must hold.
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What does ~= mean in Python requirements?
The compatible-release operator combines a minimum version with a release-prefix limit. The specification describes ~=V.N as approximately equivalent to >=V.N, ==V.*. The prefix is based on the version components you write, so adding a component narrows the permitted series.
~=3.1behaves like>=3.1, ==3.*: it allows 3.1 and later 3.x releases, but not 4.0.~=3.1.2behaves like>=3.1.2, ==3.1.*: it allows 3.1.2 and later 3.1.x releases, but not 3.2.0.~=3.1.0also limits the prefix to3.1.*; the extra zero is a release component that narrows the boundary.
A single-segment version such as ~=1 is not valid. The PyPA compatible-release rules define the required form and boundary.
Does ~=3.1 allow version 3.2?
Yes. 3.2 is within the 3.* prefix and is at least 3.1, so it satisfies ~=3.1. But ~=3.1.2 does not allow 3.2, because its prefix is limited to 3.1.*.
How do pre-releases and special versions affect these ranges?
A range that looks numerically inclusive does not necessarily mean a resolver will consider every pre-release within it. Under the specification, pre-releases—including development releases—are implicitly excluded unless they are already installed, explicitly requested, or the only available version that satisfies the requirement. Dependency resolution tools are expected to follow this default while allowing user-requested alternative behavior.
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