What's the difference between tilde(~) and caret(^) in package.json?

Question

After I upgraded to latest stable node and npm, I tried npm install moment --save. It saves the entry in the package.json

Answer 1

~ Tilde:

• ~ freezes major and minor numbers.
• It is used when you're ready to accept bug-fixes in your dependency, but don't want any potentially incompatible changes.
• The tilde matches the most recent minor version (the middle number).
• ~1.2.3 will match all 1.2.x versions, but it will miss 1.3.0.
• Tilde (~) gives you bug fix releases

^ Caret:

• ^ freezes the major number only.
• It is used when you're closely watching your dependencies and are ready to quickly change your code if minor release will be incompatible.
• It will update you to the most recent major version (the first number).
• ^1.2.3 will match any 1.x.x release including 1.3.0, but it will hold off on 2.0.0.
• Caret (^) gives you backwards-compatible new functionality as well.