diff --git a/runtime/doc/lua.txt b/runtime/doc/lua.txt
index 1eb5ab41e6..3c48cd37a6 100644
--- a/runtime/doc/lua.txt
+++ b/runtime/doc/lua.txt
@@ -2497,4 +2497,76 @@ trust({opts})                                             *vim.secure.trust()*
         • true and full path of target file if operation was successful
         • false and error message on failure
 
+
+==============================================================================
+Lua module: version                                              *lua-version*
+
+cmp({v1}, {v2}, {opts})                                        *version.cmp()*
+    Compares two strings ( `v1` and `v2` ) in semver format.
+
+    Parameters: ~
+      • {v1}    (string) Version.
+      • {v2}    (string) Version to be compared with v1.
+      • {opts}  (table|nil) Optional keyword arguments:
+                • strict (boolean): see `semver.parse` for details. Defaults
+                  to false.
+
+    Return: ~
+        (integer) `-1` if `v1 < v2`, `0` if `v1 == v2`, `1` if `v1 > v2`.
+
+eq({version_1}, {version_2})                                    *version.eq()*
+    Returns `true` if `v1` are `v2` are equal versions.
+
+    Parameters: ~
+      • {version_1}  (string)
+      • {version_2}  (string)
+
+    Return: ~
+        (boolean)
+
+gt({version_1}, {version_2})                                    *version.gt()*
+    Returns `true` if `v1` is greater than `v2` .
+
+    Parameters: ~
+      • {version_1}  (string)
+      • {version_2}  (string)
+
+    Return: ~
+        (boolean)
+
+lt({version_1}, {version_2})                                    *version.lt()*
+    Returns `true` if `v1` is less than `v2` .
+
+    Parameters: ~
+      • {version_1}  (string)
+      • {version_2}  (string)
+
+    Return: ~
+        (boolean)
+
+parse({version}, {opts})                                     *version.parse()*
+    Parses a semantically formatted version string into a table.
+
+    Supports leading "v" and leading and trailing whitespace in the version
+    string. e.g. `" v1.0.1-rc1+build.2"` , `"1.0.1-rc1+build.2"`,
+    `"v1.0.1-rc1+build.2"` and `"v1.0.1-rc1+build.2 "` will be parsed as:
+
+    { major = 1, minor = 0, patch = 1, prerelease = 'rc1 , build = 'build.2' }`
+
+    Parameters: ~
+      • {version}  (string) Version string to be parsed.
+      • {opts}     (table|nil) Optional keyword arguments:
+                   • strict (boolean): when set to `true` an error will be
+                     thrown for version strings that do not conform to the
+                     semver specification (v2.0.0) (see
+                     semver.org/spec/v2.0.0.html for details). This means that
+                     `semver.parse('v1.2)` will throw an error. When set to
+                     `false`, `semver.parse('v1.2)` will coerce 'v1.2' to
+                     'v1.2.0' and return the table: `{ major = 1, minor = 2,
+                     patch = 0 }`. Defaults to false.
+
+    Return: ~
+        (table|nil) parsed_version Parsed version table or `nil` if `version`
+        is not valid.
+
  vim:tw=78:ts=8:sw=4:sts=4:et:ft=help:norl:
diff --git a/runtime/doc/news.txt b/runtime/doc/news.txt
index 415195e27e..b5cb975066 100644
--- a/runtime/doc/news.txt
+++ b/runtime/doc/news.txt
@@ -55,6 +55,10 @@ NEW FEATURES                                                    *news-features*
 
 The following new APIs or features were added.
 
+• Added |version.parse()|, |version.cmp()|, |version.lt()|, |version.eq()|
+  and |version.gt()| to |vim.version| for parsing and comparing version numbers
+  according to the semver specification, see |lua-version|.
+
 • A new environment variable named NVIM_APPNAME enables configuring the
   directories where Neovim should find its configuration and state files. See
   `:help $NVIM_APPNAME` .
diff --git a/runtime/lua/vim/_init_packages.lua b/runtime/lua/vim/_init_packages.lua
index e3a442af5e..d032026796 100644
--- a/runtime/lua/vim/_init_packages.lua
+++ b/runtime/lua/vim/_init_packages.lua
@@ -69,6 +69,9 @@ setmetatable(vim, {
         t[key] = val
         return t[key]
       end
+    elseif key == 'version' then
+      t[key] = require('vim.version')
+      return t[key]
     end
   end,
 })
diff --git a/runtime/lua/vim/version.lua b/runtime/lua/vim/version.lua
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..49ef019295
--- /dev/null
+++ b/runtime/lua/vim/version.lua
@@ -0,0 +1,297 @@
+local M = {}
+
+---@private
+--- Compares the prerelease component of the two versions.
+---@param v1_parsed table Parsed version.
+---@param v2_parsed table Parsed version.
+---@return integer `-1` if `v1_parsed < v2_parsed`, `0` if `v1_parsed == v2_parsed`, `1` if `v1_parsed > v2_parsed`.
+local function cmp_prerelease(v1_parsed, v2_parsed)
+  if v1_parsed.prerelease and not v2_parsed.prerelease then
+    return -1
+  end
+  if not v1_parsed.prerelease and v2_parsed.prerelease then
+    return 1
+  end
+  if not v1_parsed.prerelease and not v2_parsed.prerelease then
+    return 0
+  end
+
+  local v1_identifiers = vim.split(v1_parsed.prerelease, '.', { plain = true })
+  local v2_identifiers = vim.split(v2_parsed.prerelease, '.', { plain = true })
+  local i = 1
+  local max = math.max(vim.tbl_count(v1_identifiers), vim.tbl_count(v2_identifiers))
+  while i <= max do
+    local v1_identifier = v1_identifiers[i]
+    local v2_identifier = v2_identifiers[i]
+    if v1_identifier ~= v2_identifier then
+      local v1_num = tonumber(v1_identifier)
+      local v2_num = tonumber(v2_identifier)
+      local is_number = v1_num and v2_num
+      if is_number then
+        -- Number comparisons
+        if not v1_num and v2_num then
+          return -1
+        end
+        if v1_num and not v2_num then
+          return 1
+        end
+        if v1_num == v2_num then
+          return 0
+        end
+        if v1_num > v2_num then
+          return 1
+        end
+        if v1_num < v2_num then
+          return -1
+        end
+      else
+        -- String comparisons
+        if v1_identifier and not v2_identifier then
+          return 1
+        end
+        if not v1_identifier and v2_identifier then
+          return -1
+        end
+        if v1_identifier < v2_identifier then
+          return -1
+        end
+        if v1_identifier > v2_identifier then
+          return 1
+        end
+        if v1_identifier == v2_identifier then
+          return 0
+        end
+      end
+    end
+    i = i + 1
+  end
+
+  return 0
+end
+
+---@private
+--- Compares the version core component of the two versions.
+---@param v1_parsed table Parsed version.
+---@param v2_parsed table Parsed version.
+---@return integer `-1` if `v1_parsed < v2_parsed`, `0` if `v1_parsed == v2_parsed`, `1` if `v1_parsed > v2_parsed`.
+local function cmp_version_core(v1_parsed, v2_parsed)
+  if
+    v1_parsed.major == v2_parsed.major
+    and v1_parsed.minor == v2_parsed.minor
+    and v1_parsed.patch == v2_parsed.patch
+  then
+    return 0
+  end
+
+  if
+    v1_parsed.major > v2_parsed.major
+    or v1_parsed.minor > v2_parsed.minor
+    or v1_parsed.patch > v2_parsed.patch
+  then
+    return 1
+  end
+
+  return -1
+end
+
+--- Compares two strings (`v1` and `v2`) in semver format.
+---@param v1 string Version.
+---@param v2 string Version to be compared with v1.
+---@param opts table|nil Optional keyword arguments:
+---                      - strict (boolean):  see `semver.parse` for details. Defaults to false.
+---@return integer `-1` if `v1 < v2`, `0` if `v1 == v2`, `1` if `v1 > v2`.
+function M.cmp(v1, v2, opts)
+  opts = opts or { strict = false }
+  local v1_parsed = M.parse(v1, opts)
+  local v2_parsed = M.parse(v2, opts)
+
+  local result = cmp_version_core(v1_parsed, v2_parsed)
+  if result == 0 then
+    result = cmp_prerelease(v1_parsed, v2_parsed)
+  end
+  return result
+end
+
+---@private
+---@param labels string Prerelease and build component of semantic version string e.g. "-rc1+build.0".
+---@return string|nil
+local function parse_prerelease(labels)
+  -- This pattern matches "-(alpha)+build.15".
+  -- '^%-[%w%.]+$'
+  local result = labels:match('^%-([%w%.]+)+.+$')
+  if result then
+    return result
+  end
+  -- This pattern matches "-(alpha)".
+  result = labels:match('^%-([%w%.]+)')
+  if result then
+    return result
+  end
+
+  return nil
+end
+
+---@private
+---@param labels string Prerelease and build component of semantic version string e.g. "-rc1+build.0".
+---@return string|nil
+local function parse_build(labels)
+  -- Pattern matches "-alpha+(build.15)".
+  local result = labels:match('^%-[%w%.]+%+([%w%.]+)$')
+  if result then
+    return result
+  end
+
+  -- Pattern matches "+(build.15)".
+  result = labels:match('^%+([%w%.]+)$')
+  if result then
+    return result
+  end
+
+  return nil
+end
+
+---@private
+--- Extracts the major, minor, patch and preprelease and build components from
+--- `version`.
+---@param version string Version string
+local function extract_components_strict(version)
+  local major, minor, patch, prerelease_and_build = version:match('^v?(%d+)%.(%d+)%.(%d+)(.*)$')
+  return tonumber(major), tonumber(minor), tonumber(patch), prerelease_and_build
+end
+
+---@private
+--- Extracts the major, minor, patch and preprelease and build components from
+--- `version`. When `minor` and `patch` components are not found (nil), coerce
+--- them to 0.
+---@param version string Version string
+local function extract_components_loose(version)
+  local major, minor, patch, prerelease_and_build = version:match('^v?(%d+)%.?(%d*)%.?(%d*)(.*)$')
+  major = tonumber(major)
+  minor = tonumber(minor) or 0
+  patch = tonumber(patch) or 0
+  return major, minor, patch, prerelease_and_build
+end
+
+---@private
+--- Validates the prerelease and build string e.g. "-rc1+build.0". If the
+--- prerelease, build or both are valid forms then it will return true, if it
+--- is not of any valid form, it will return false.
+---@param prerelease_and_build string
+---@return boolean
+local function is_prerelease_and_build_valid(prerelease_and_build)
+  if prerelease_and_build == '' then
+    return true
+  end
+  local has_build = parse_build(prerelease_and_build) ~= nil
+  local has_prerelease = parse_prerelease(prerelease_and_build) ~= nil
+  local has_prerelease_and_build = has_prerelease and has_build
+  return has_build or has_prerelease or has_prerelease_and_build
+end
+
+---@private
+---@param version string
+---@return string
+local function create_err_msg(version)
+  return string.format('invalid version: "%s"', version)
+end
+
+--- Parses a semantically formatted version string into a table.
+---
+--- Supports leading "v" and leading and trailing whitespace in the version
+--- string. e.g. `" v1.0.1-rc1+build.2"` , `"1.0.1-rc1+build.2"`, `"v1.0.1-rc1+build.2"`
+--- and `"v1.0.1-rc1+build.2 "` will be parsed as:
+---
+--- `{ major = 1, minor = 0, patch = 1, prerelease = 'rc1', build = 'build.2' }`
+---
+---@param version string Version string to be parsed.
+---@param opts table|nil Optional keyword arguments:
+---                      - strict (boolean):  when set to `true` an error will be thrown for version
+---                      strings that do not conform to the semver specification (v2.0.0) (see
+---                      semver.org/spec/v2.0.0.html for details). This means that
+---                      `semver.parse('v1.2)` will throw an error. When set to `false`,
+---                      `semver.parse('v1.2)` will coerce 'v1.2' to 'v1.2.0' and return the table:
+---                      `{ major = 1, minor = 2, patch = 0 }`. Defaults to false.
+---@return table|nil parsed_version Parsed version table or `nil` if `version` is not valid.
+function M.parse(version, opts)
+  if type(version) ~= 'string' then
+    error(create_err_msg(version))
+  end
+
+  opts = opts or { strict = false }
+
+  version = vim.trim(version)
+
+  local extract_components = opts.strict and extract_components_strict or extract_components_loose
+  local major, minor, patch, prerelease_and_build = extract_components(version)
+
+  -- If major is nil then that means that the version does not begin with a
+  -- digit with or without a "v" prefix.
+  if major == nil or not is_prerelease_and_build_valid(prerelease_and_build) then
+    return nil
+  end
+
+  local prerelease = nil
+  local build = nil
+  if prerelease_and_build ~= nil then
+    prerelease = parse_prerelease(prerelease_and_build)
+    build = parse_build(prerelease_and_build)
+  end
+
+  return {
+    major = major,
+    minor = minor,
+    patch = patch,
+    prerelease = prerelease,
+    build = build,
+  }
+end
+
+---@private
+--- Throws an error if `version` cannot be parsed.
+---@param version string
+local function assert_version(version)
+  if M.parse(version) == nil then
+    error(create_err_msg(version))
+  end
+end
+
+---Returns `true` if `v1` are `v2` are equal versions.
+---@param version_1 string
+---@param version_2 string
+---@return boolean
+function M.eq(version_1, version_2)
+  assert_version(version_1)
+  assert_version(version_2)
+
+  return M.cmp(version_1, version_2) == 0
+end
+
+---Returns `true` if `v1` is less than `v2`.
+---@param version_1 string
+---@param version_2 string
+---@return boolean
+function M.lt(version_1, version_2)
+  assert_version(version_1)
+  assert_version(version_2)
+
+  return M.cmp(version_1, version_2) == -1
+end
+
+---Returns `true` if `v1` is greater than `v2`.
+---@param version_1 string
+---@param version_2 string
+---@return boolean
+function M.gt(version_1, version_2)
+  assert_version(version_1)
+  assert_version(version_2)
+
+  return M.cmp(version_1, version_2) == 1
+end
+
+setmetatable(M, {
+  __call = function()
+    return vim.fn.api_info().version
+  end,
+})
+
+return M
diff --git a/scripts/gen_vimdoc.py b/scripts/gen_vimdoc.py
index 0164278b34..45a6d8e402 100755
--- a/scripts/gen_vimdoc.py
+++ b/scripts/gen_vimdoc.py
@@ -152,6 +152,7 @@ CONFIG = {
             'keymap.lua',
             'fs.lua',
             'secure.lua',
+            'version.lua',
         ],
         'files': [
             'runtime/lua/vim/_editor.lua',
@@ -162,6 +163,7 @@ CONFIG = {
             'runtime/lua/vim/keymap.lua',
             'runtime/lua/vim/fs.lua',
             'runtime/lua/vim/secure.lua',
+            'runtime/lua/vim/version.lua',
             'runtime/lua/vim/_inspector.lua',
         ],
         'file_patterns': '*.lua',
diff --git a/src/nvim/lua/executor.c b/src/nvim/lua/executor.c
index bb461a7f13..5ec91aebb0 100644
--- a/src/nvim/lua/executor.c
+++ b/src/nvim/lua/executor.c
@@ -165,17 +165,6 @@ static int nlua_pcall(lua_State *lstate, int nargs, int nresults)
   return status;
 }
 
-/// Gets the version of the current Nvim build.
-///
-/// @param  lstate  Lua interpreter state.
-static int nlua_nvim_version(lua_State *const lstate) FUNC_ATTR_NONNULL_ALL
-{
-  Dictionary version = version_dict();
-  nlua_push_Dictionary(lstate, version, true);
-  api_free_dictionary(version);
-  return 1;
-}
-
 static void nlua_luv_error_event(void **argv)
 {
   char *error = (char *)argv[0];
@@ -739,10 +728,6 @@ static bool nlua_state_init(lua_State *const lstate) FUNC_ATTR_NONNULL_ALL
   // vim.types, vim.type_idx, vim.val_idx
   nlua_init_types(lstate);
 
-  // neovim version
-  lua_pushcfunction(lstate, &nlua_nvim_version);
-  lua_setfield(lstate, -2, "version");
-
   // schedule
   lua_pushcfunction(lstate, &nlua_schedule);
   lua_setfield(lstate, -2, "schedule");
diff --git a/test/functional/lua/version_spec.lua b/test/functional/lua/version_spec.lua
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..23f3cec948
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/functional/lua/version_spec.lua
@@ -0,0 +1,587 @@
+local helpers = require('test.functional.helpers')(after_each)
+local eq = helpers.eq
+local pcall_err = helpers.pcall_err
+local matches = helpers.matches
+
+local version = require('vim.version')
+
+describe('version', function()
+  describe('cmp()', function()
+    local testcases = {
+      {
+        desc = 'v1 < v2',
+        v1 = 'v0.0.0',
+        v2 = 'v9.0.0',
+        want = -1,
+      },
+      {
+        desc = 'v1 < v2',
+        v1 = 'v0.0.0',
+        v2 = 'v0.9.0',
+        want = -1,
+      },
+      {
+        desc = 'v1 < v2',
+        v1 = 'v0.0.0',
+        v2 = 'v0.0.9',
+        want = -1,
+      },
+      {
+        desc = 'v1 == v2',
+        v1 = 'v0.0.0',
+        v2 = 'v0.0.0',
+        want = 0,
+      },
+      {
+        desc = 'v1 > v2',
+        v1 = 'v9.0.0',
+        v2 = 'v0.0.0',
+        want = 1,
+      },
+      {
+        desc = 'v1 > v2',
+        v1 = 'v0.9.0',
+        v2 = 'v0.0.0',
+        want = 1,
+      },
+      {
+        desc = 'v1 > v2',
+        v1 = 'v0.0.9',
+        v2 = 'v0.0.0',
+        want = 1,
+      },
+      {
+        desc = 'v1 < v2 when v1 has prerelease',
+        v1 = 'v1.0.0-alpha',
+        v2 = 'v1.0.0',
+        want = -1,
+      },
+      {
+        desc = 'v1 > v2 when v2 has prerelease',
+        v1 = '1.0.0',
+        v2 = '1.0.0-alpha',
+        want = 1,
+      },
+      {
+        desc = 'v1 > v2 when v1 has a higher number identifier',
+        v1 = '1.0.0-2',
+        v2 = '1.0.0-1',
+        want = 1,
+      },
+      {
+        desc = 'v1 < v2 when v2 has a higher number identifier',
+        v1 = '1.0.0-2',
+        v2 = '1.0.0-9',
+        want = -1,
+      },
+      {
+        desc = 'v1 < v2 when v2 has more identifiers',
+        v1 = '1.0.0-2',
+        v2 = '1.0.0-2.0',
+        want = -1,
+      },
+      {
+        desc = 'v1 > v2 when v1 has more identifiers',
+        v1 = '1.0.0-2.0',
+        v2 = '1.0.0-2',
+        want = 1,
+      },
+      {
+        desc = 'v1 == v2 when v2 has same numeric identifiers',
+        v1 = '1.0.0-2.0',
+        v2 = '1.0.0-2.0',
+        want = 0,
+      },
+      {
+        desc = 'v1 == v2 when v2 has same alphabet identifiers',
+        v1 = '1.0.0-alpha',
+        v2 = '1.0.0-alpha',
+        want = 0,
+      },
+      {
+        desc = 'v1 < v2 when v2 has an alphabet identifier with a higher ASCII sort order',
+        v1 = '1.0.0-alpha',
+        v2 = '1.0.0-beta',
+        want = -1,
+      },
+      {
+        desc = 'v1 > v2 when v1 has an alphabet identifier with a higher ASCII sort order',
+        v1 = '1.0.0-beta',
+        v2 = '1.0.0-alpha',
+        want = 1,
+      },
+      {
+        desc = 'v1 < v2 when v2 has prerelease and number identifer',
+        v1 = '1.0.0-alpha',
+        v2 = '1.0.0-alpha.1',
+        want = -1,
+      },
+      {
+        desc = 'v1 > v2 when v1 has prerelease and number identifer',
+        v1 = '1.0.0-alpha.1',
+        v2 = '1.0.0-alpha',
+        want = 1,
+      },
+      {
+        desc = 'v1 > v2 when v1 has an additional alphabet identifier',
+        v1 = '1.0.0-alpha.beta',
+        v2 = '1.0.0-alpha',
+        want = 1,
+      },
+      {
+        desc = 'v1 < v2 when v2 has an additional alphabet identifier',
+        v1 = '1.0.0-alpha',
+        v2 = '1.0.0-alpha.beta',
+        want = -1,
+      },
+      {
+        desc = 'v1 < v2 when v2 has an a first alphabet identifier with higher precedence',
+        v1 = '1.0.0-alpha.beta',
+        v2 = '1.0.0-beta',
+        want = -1,
+      },
+      {
+        desc = 'v1 > v2 when v1 has an a first alphabet identifier with higher precedence',
+        v1 = '1.0.0-beta',
+        v2 = '1.0.0-alpha.beta',
+        want = 1,
+      },
+      {
+        desc = 'v1 < v2 when v2 has an additional number identifer',
+        v1 = '1.0.0-beta',
+        v2 = '1.0.0-beta.2',
+        want = -1,
+      },
+      {
+        desc = 'v1 < v2 when v2 has same first alphabet identifier but has a higher number identifer',
+        v1 = '1.0.0-beta.2',
+        v2 = '1.0.0-beta.11',
+        want = -1,
+      },
+      {
+        desc = 'v1 < v2 when v2 has higher alphabet precedence',
+        v1 = '1.0.0-beta.11',
+        v2 = '1.0.0-rc.1',
+        want = -1,
+      },
+    }
+    for _, tc in ipairs(testcases) do
+      it(
+        string.format('returns %d if %s (v1 = %s, v2 = %s)', tc.want, tc.desc, tc.v1, tc.v2),
+        function()
+          eq(tc.want, version.cmp(tc.v1, tc.v2, { strict = true }))
+        end
+      )
+    end
+  end)
+
+  describe('parse()', function()
+    describe('parsing', function()
+      describe('strict = true', function()
+        local testcases = {
+          {
+            desc = 'a version without leading "v"',
+            version = '10.20.123',
+            want = {
+              major = 10,
+              minor = 20,
+              patch = 123,
+              prerelease = nil,
+              build = nil,
+            },
+          },
+          {
+            desc = 'a valid version with a leading "v"',
+            version = 'v1.2.3',
+            want = { major = 1, minor = 2, patch = 3 },
+          },
+          {
+            desc = 'a valid version with leading "v" and whitespace',
+            version = '  v1.2.3',
+            want = { major = 1, minor = 2, patch = 3 },
+          },
+          {
+            desc = 'a valid version with leading "v" and trailing whitespace',
+            version = 'v1.2.3  ',
+            want = { major = 1, minor = 2, patch = 3 },
+          },
+          {
+            desc = 'a version with a prerelease',
+            version = '1.2.3-alpha',
+            want = { major = 1, minor = 2, patch = 3, prerelease = 'alpha' },
+          },
+          {
+            desc = 'a version with a prerelease with additional identifiers',
+            version = '1.2.3-alpha.1',
+            want = { major = 1, minor = 2, patch = 3, prerelease = 'alpha.1' },
+          },
+          {
+            desc = 'a version with a build',
+            version = '1.2.3+build.15',
+            want = { major = 1, minor = 2, patch = 3, build = 'build.15' },
+          },
+          {
+            desc = 'a version with a prerelease and build',
+            version = '1.2.3-rc1+build.15',
+            want = {
+              major = 1,
+              minor = 2,
+              patch = 3,
+              prerelease = 'rc1',
+              build = 'build.15',
+            },
+          },
+        }
+        for _, tc in ipairs(testcases) do
+          it(
+            string.format('returns correct table for %q: version = %q', tc.desc, tc.version),
+            function()
+              eq(tc.want, version.parse(tc.version, { strict = true }))
+            end
+          )
+        end
+      end)
+
+      describe('strict = false', function()
+        local testcases = {
+          {
+            desc = 'a version missing patch version',
+            version = '1.2',
+            want = { major = 1, minor = 2, patch = 0 },
+          },
+          {
+            desc = 'a version missing minor and patch version',
+            version = '1',
+            want = { major = 1, minor = 0, patch = 0 },
+          },
+          {
+            desc = 'a version missing patch version with prerelease',
+            version = '1.1-0',
+            want = { major = 1, minor = 1, patch = 0, prerelease = '0' },
+          },
+          {
+            desc = 'a version missing minor and patch version with prerelease',
+            version = '1-1.0',
+            want = { major = 1, minor = 0, patch = 0, prerelease = '1.0' },
+          },
+        }
+        for _, tc in ipairs(testcases) do
+          it(
+            string.format('returns correct table for %q: version = %q', tc.desc, tc.version),
+            function()
+              eq(tc.want, version.parse(tc.version, { strict = false }))
+            end
+          )
+        end
+      end)
+    end)
+
+    describe('errors', function()
+      describe('returns nil', function()
+        local testcases = {
+          { desc = 'a word', version = 'foo' },
+          { desc = 'an empty string', version = '' },
+          { desc = 'trailing period character', version = '0.0.0.' },
+          { desc = 'leading period character', version = '.0.0.0' },
+          { desc = 'negative major version', version = '-1.0.0' },
+          { desc = 'negative minor version', version = '0.-1.0' },
+          { desc = 'negative patch version', version = '0.0.-1' },
+          { desc = 'leading invalid string', version = 'foobar1.2.3' },
+          { desc = 'trailing invalid string', version = '1.2.3foobar' },
+          { desc = 'an invalid prerelease', version = '1.2.3-%?' },
+          { desc = 'an invalid build', version = '1.2.3+%?' },
+          { desc = 'build metadata before prerelease', version = '1.2.3+build.0-rc1' },
+        }
+        for _, tc in ipairs(testcases) do
+          it(string.format('for %s: version = %s', tc.desc, tostring(tc.version)), function()
+            eq(nil, version.parse(tc.version, { strict = true }))
+          end)
+        end
+      end)
+
+      describe('raises error', function()
+        local testcases = {
+          { desc = 'no parameters' },
+          { desc = 'nil', version = nil },
+          { desc = 'a number', version = 0 },
+          { desc = 'a float', version = 0.01 },
+          { desc = 'a table', version = {} },
+        }
+        for _, tc in ipairs(testcases) do
+          it(string.format('for %s: version = %s', tc.desc, tostring(tc.version)), function()
+            matches(
+              string.format('invalid version: "%s"', tostring(tc.version)),
+              pcall_err(function()
+                version.parse(tc.version, { strict = true })
+              end)
+            )
+          end)
+        end
+      end)
+    end)
+  end)
+
+  describe('eq', function()
+    describe('valid versions', function()
+      local testcases = {
+        {
+          version_1 = '1.0.0',
+          version_2 = '1.0.0',
+          want = true,
+        },
+        {
+          version_1 = '1.0.0',
+          version_2 = 'v1.0.0',
+          want = true,
+        },
+        {
+          version_1 = '1.0.0',
+          version_2 = '1.0',
+          want = true,
+        },
+        {
+          version_1 = '1.0.0',
+          version_2 = '1',
+          want = true,
+        },
+        {
+          version_1 = '1.0.0-alpha',
+          version_2 = '1.0.0-alpha',
+          want = true,
+        },
+        {
+          version_1 = '1.0.0-alpha',
+          version_2 = 'v1.0.0-alpha',
+          want = true,
+        },
+        {
+          version_1 = '1.0.0-alpha',
+          version_2 = '1.0.0-alpha+build.5',
+          want = true,
+        },
+        {
+          version_1 = '1.0.0-alpha.1',
+          version_2 = '1.0.0-alpha.1+build.5',
+          want = true,
+        },
+        {
+          version_1 = '1.0.0-alpha',
+          version_2 = '1.0.0-alpha.1',
+          want = false,
+        },
+        {
+          version_1 = '1.0.0',
+          version_2 = '2.0.0',
+          want = false,
+        },
+      }
+      for _, tc in ipairs(testcases) do
+        it(string.format('returns %s for %s = %s', tc.want, tc.version_1, tc.version_2), function()
+          eq(tc.want, version.eq(tc.version_1, tc.version_2))
+        end)
+      end
+    end)
+
+    describe('errors', function()
+      local testcases = {
+        {
+          version_1 = '',
+          version_2 = '1.0.0',
+          err_version = '',
+        },
+        {
+          version_1 = '1.0.0',
+          version_2 = '',
+          err_version = '',
+        },
+        {
+          version_1 = '',
+          version_2 = '',
+          err_version = '',
+        },
+        {
+          version_1 = '1.0.0',
+          version_2 = 'foo',
+          err_version = 'foo',
+        },
+      }
+      for _, tc in ipairs(testcases) do
+        it(string.format('for %s = %s', tc.version_1, tc.version_2), function()
+          matches(
+            string.format('invalid version: "%s"', tc.err_version),
+            pcall_err(function()
+              version.eq(tc.version_1, tc.version_2)
+            end)
+          )
+        end)
+      end
+    end)
+  end)
+
+  describe('lt', function()
+    describe('valid versions', function()
+      local testcases = {
+        {
+          version_1 = '1.0.0',
+          version_2 = '1.0.1',
+          want = true,
+        },
+        {
+          version_1 = '1.0.0-alpha',
+          version_2 = '1.0.1',
+          want = true,
+        },
+        {
+          version_1 = '1.0.0-alpha',
+          version_2 = '1.0.1-beta',
+          want = true,
+        },
+        {
+          version_1 = '1.0.1',
+          version_2 = '1.0.0',
+          want = false,
+        },
+        {
+          version_1 = '1.0.0-alpha',
+          version_2 = '1.0.0-alpha',
+          want = false,
+        },
+        {
+          version_1 = '1.0.0-alpha',
+          version_2 = '1.0.0-alpha+build.5',
+          want = false,
+        },
+        {
+          version_1 = '1.0.0-alpha+build.4',
+          version_2 = '1.0.0-alpha+build.5',
+          want = false,
+        },
+      }
+      for _, tc in ipairs(testcases) do
+        it(
+          string.format('returns %s for %s < %s', tostring(tc.want), tc.version_1, tc.version_2),
+          function()
+            eq(tc.want, version.lt(tc.version_1, tc.version_2))
+          end
+        )
+      end
+    end)
+
+    describe('errors', function()
+      local testcases = {
+        {
+          version_1 = '',
+          version_2 = '1.0.0',
+          err_version = '',
+        },
+        {
+          version_1 = '1.0.0',
+          version_2 = '',
+          err_version = '',
+        },
+        {
+          version_1 = '',
+          version_2 = '',
+          err_version = '',
+        },
+      }
+      for _, tc in ipairs(testcases) do
+        it(string.format('for %s < %s', tc.version_1, tc.version_2), function()
+          matches(
+            string.format('invalid version: "%s"', tc.err_version),
+            pcall_err(function()
+              version.lt(tc.version_1, tc.version_2)
+            end)
+          )
+        end)
+      end
+    end)
+  end)
+
+  describe('gt', function()
+    describe('valid versions', function()
+      local testcases = {
+        {
+          version_1 = '1.0.1',
+          version_2 = '1.0.0',
+          want = true,
+        },
+        {
+          version_1 = '1.0.1',
+          version_2 = '1.0.1-alpha',
+          want = true,
+        },
+        {
+          version_1 = '1.0.0',
+          version_2 = '1.0.1',
+          want = false,
+        },
+        {
+          version_1 = '1.0.0-alpha',
+          version_2 = '1.0.1',
+          want = false,
+        },
+        {
+          version_1 = '1.0.0-alpha',
+          version_2 = '1.0.1-beta',
+          want = false,
+        },
+        {
+          version_1 = '1.0.0-alpha',
+          version_2 = '1.0.0-alpha',
+          want = false,
+        },
+        {
+          version_1 = '1.0.0-beta',
+          version_2 = '1.0.0-alpha',
+          want = true,
+        },
+        {
+          version_1 = '1.0.0-alpha',
+          version_2 = '1.0.0-alpha+build.5',
+          want = false,
+        },
+        {
+          version_1 = '1.0.0-alpha+build.4',
+          version_2 = '1.0.0-alpha+build.5',
+          want = false,
+        },
+      }
+      for _, tc in ipairs(testcases) do
+        it(string.format('returns %s for %s > %s', tc.want, tc.version_1, tc.version_2), function()
+          eq(tc.want, version.gt(tc.version_1, tc.version_2))
+        end)
+      end
+    end)
+
+    describe('errors', function()
+      local testcases = {
+        {
+          version_1 = '',
+          version_2 = '1.0.0',
+          err_version = '',
+        },
+        {
+          version_1 = '1.0.0',
+          version_2 = '',
+          err_version = '',
+        },
+        {
+          version_1 = '',
+          version_2 = '',
+          err_version = '',
+        },
+      }
+      for _, tc in ipairs(testcases) do
+        it(string.format('for %s < %s', tc.version_1, tc.version_2), function()
+          matches(
+            string.format('invalid version: "%s"', tc.err_version),
+            pcall_err(function()
+              version.gt(tc.version_1, tc.version_2)
+            end)
+          )
+        end)
+      end
+    end)
+  end)
+end)