Protocol version

A protocol version is an integer version used to check for incompatibilities between server versions.

Usage
Client and server versions with the same protocol version are compatible with each other. For example, a client running Java Edition 1.8.9 can connect to a server running Java Edition 1.8, as both have a protocol version of 47.

Upon attempting to join a multiplayer server, the game will check if the client has a protocol version newer or older than the selected server; if it does, the game will then alert the player that their client is outdated.

Versioning
All versions, including minor releases and development versions on both Java and Bedrock editions, have their own protocol version. The version takes the form of an ever-increasing positive integer, unlike client versions which have different parts of the version separated by periods ( . ). Some protocol versions may occasionally be skipped, sometimes due to the presence of private test versions in-between.

List of protocol versions
The latest Java Edition release version,, has a protocol version of.