sw_vers

Print the macOS Operating System version.

Syntax
      sw_vers
      sw_vers -productName
      sw_vers -productVersion
      sw_vers -productVersionExtra
      sw_vers -buildVersion

Key
   -productName     Print just the name of the operating system release (typically "macOS").

   -productVersion  Print just the Product Version for example, "11.3" or "12.0".

   -productVersionExtra
                    Print only the Rapid Security Response version, if one is installed on
                    the OS, for example, "(a)" or "(b)".

   -buildVersion    Print just the specific revision of the OS as generated by the macOS build system.

When executed with no options sw_vers prints a short list of version properties.

macOS versions

Major versions of macOS are released once a year, and are usually maintained for three years.
macOS Release Notes

26    Tahoe       2025 last intel support
15    Sequoia     2024
14    Sonoma      2023
13    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  Renamed as macOS
10.11 El Capitan  2015
10.10 Yosemite    2014
10.9  Mavericks   2013
10.8 MountainLion 2012
10.7  Lion        2011
10.6  SnowLeopard 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 First version of OS X

Examples

% sw_vers
ProductName: macOS
ProductVersion: 15.6.1
BuildVersion: 24G90

$ sw_vers -productVersion
15.6.1

“Have no friends not equal to yourself” ~ Confucious (Analects)

Related macOS commands

Local man page: sw_vers - Command line help page on your local machine.
system_profiler SPSoftwareDataType
set - Set a shell variable = value
softwareupdate - Check for new and updated software or Download a full macOS installer.
MIST - macOS Installer Super Tool.
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.