Print macOS operating system version.
Syntax sw_vers sw_vers -productName sw_vers -productVersion sw_vers -buildVersion Key -productName Print just the value of the ProductName property. -productVersion Print just the value of the ProductVersion property. -buildVersion Print just the value of the BuildVersion property.
When executed with no options sw_vers prints a short list of version properties:
% sw_vers
ProductName: Mac OS X
ProductVersion: 10.12.6
BuildVersion: 16G1815
The ProductName property provides the name of the operating system release (typically either "Mac OS X", "macOS" or "macOS Server"). The ProductVersion property defines the version of the operating system release (for example, "10.2.4" or "10.3"). The BuildVersion property provides the specific revision of the operating system as generated by the macOS build system.
Major versions of macOS are released once a year, and are usually maintained for three years.
macOS Release Notes13 Ventura 2022 12 Monterey 2021 11 Big Sur 2020 (may appear as 10.16) 10.15 Catalina 2019 10.14 Mojave 2018 last 32-bit support 10.13 High Sierra 2017 10.12 Sierra 2016 10.11 El Capitan 2015 10.10 Yosemite 2014 10.9 Mavericks 2013 10.8 Mountain Lion 2012 10.7 Lion 2011 10.6 Snow Leopard 2009 10.5 Leopard 2007 10.4 Tiger 2005 first 64-bit support 10.3 Panther 2003 10.2 Jaguar 2002 10.1 Puma 2001 10.0 Cheetah 2001
$ sw_vers -productVersion
10.12.6
"Have no friends not equal to yourself" ~ Confucious (Analects)
system_profiler SPSoftwareDataType
set - Set a shell variable = value
softwareupdate - Check for new and updated software or Download a full macOS installer.
How-to:Make a bootable macOS drive
How-to: macOS versions.
uname - Print the Darwin OS Kernel version / release / machine name.
unset - Remove variable or function names.