Platform.Version
- React Native course
- Beginner
- Lesson 102/116
- 5 min
Learn version detection with Platform.Version.
Platform.Version
Platform.Version gives the operating system version number. On iOS this is a string (for example '14.0'); on Android it is a number (the API level, for example 33). Sometimes you may want to use a feature available only in certain versions.
On Android you do a numeric comparison for version checking: if (Platform.Version >= 33). On iOS a string comparison is needed; therefore iOS version checking is less common. You import Platform.Version together with Platform.
Using Version
On Android Platform.Version is a number; it represents the API level. For example Android 13 has API level 33. To use a feature from a certain API level onward you write if (Platform.Version >= 33).
On iOS Platform.Version is a string (for example '14.4'). Numeric comparison does not work directly; you can convert it with parseInt(Platform.Version, 10) and then compare. At the beginner level the Android API level check is the most common.
Practice Your turn: Android version check
Import Platform. If Platform.Version >= 33 return <Text>New Android</Text>; otherwise return <Text>Old Android</Text>.
Starter code
import { Text } from 'react-native';
function Screen() {
// check Android version
return <Text>Android</Text>;
}Sample solution
import { Platform, Text } from 'react-native';
function Screen() {
if (Platform.Version >= 33) {
return <Text>New Android</Text>;
}
return <Text>Old Android</Text>;
}Questions and answers
Review the lesson questions together with their answers. To test yourself, solve the lesson interactively.
1 Match: property and return type
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
Platform.OS |
string |
Platform.Version |
number on Android |
Platform.select |
selected value |
2 What does Platform.Version return on Android?
Platform.Version- A string
- An array
- A component
- A number (API level) Correct answer
Explanation: On Android Platform.Version gives the API level as a number.
3 Fill in the blank: version access
if (Platform.____ >= 33) { ... }if (Platform.Version >= 33) { ... }Explanation: You read the version with Platform.Version.