Install Specific Version of Package using Composer

Here is a short and quick article for How To Install Specific Version of Package using Composer

TL;DR version

composer require vendor/package:version
//Example
composer require laravel/passport:6.0

Detailed version

Navigate to the project root directory in the terminal and execute the following command to install the specific version of a package using Composer

Let’s suppose you are looking to install version 6.0.0 of package larvael/passport to your project, instead of the latest version. Then you should execute the following command

composer require laravel/passport:6.0.0

Add double quotes to use caret or tilde operator in version number.

For example

composer require middlewares/whoops "^0.4"

Tilde Version Range (~) – ~1.2.3 is equivalent to >=1.2.3 <1.3.0

Caret Version Range (^) – ^1.2.3 is equivalent to >=1.2.3 <2.0.0

So, with Tilde you will get automatic updates of patches but minor and major versions will not be updated. However, if you use Caret you will get patches and minor versions, but you will not get major (breaking changes) versions.

Tilde Version is considered a “safer” approach, but if you are using reliable dependencies (well-maintained libraries) you should not have any problems with Caret Version (because minor changes should not be breaking changes.