Description
mixed 
version_compare ( string version1, string version2 [, string operator] )
     version_compare() compares two
     "PHP-standardized" version number strings. This is useful if you
     would like to write programs working only on some versions of
     PHP.
    
     version_compare() returns -1 if the first
     version is lower than the second, 0 if they are equal, and +1 if
     the second is lower.
    
     The function first replaces _, -
     and + with a dot . in the version 
     strings and also inserts dots . before and after any 
     non number so that for example '4.3.2RC1' becomes '4.3.2.RC.1'. Then it 
     splits the results like if you were using explode('.', $ver). Then it 
     compares the parts starting from left to right. If a part contains 
     special version strings these are handled in the following order: 
     dev < alpha = 
     a < beta = 
     b < RC < 
     pl. This way not only versions with different levels
     like '4.1' and '4.1.2' can be compared but also any PHP specific version
     containing development state.
    
     If you specify the third optional operator
     argument, you can test for a particular relationship. The
     possible operators are: <,
     lt, <=,
     le, >,
     gt, >=,
     ge, ==,
     =, eq,
     !=, <>,
     ne respectively. Using this argument, the
     function will return TRUE if the relationship is the one specified
     by the operator, FALSE otherwise.
    
Note: 
      PHP_VERSION constant holds current PHP version.
     
     
| Example 1. version_compare() example | 
<?php// prints -1
 echo version_compare("4.0.4", "4.0.6");
 
 // these all print 1
 echo version_compare("4.0.4", "4.0.6", "<");
 echo version_compare("4.0.6", "4.0.6", "eq");
 ?>
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