> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://tashfiq.mintlify.site/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# version

> Print Charter build metadata for the currently installed binary.

`charter version` prints build metadata for the currently running binary. Use it to confirm which build is installed in a local environment, CI runner, or release artifact — and to include the exact version when filing a bug report.

## Usage

<CodeGroup>
  ```bash Full output theme={null}
  charter version
  ```

  ```bash Short (version number only) theme={null}
  charter version --short
  ```

  ```bash JSON theme={null}
  charter version --format json
  ```
</CodeGroup>

<Frame caption="charter version — build metadata for the installed binary">
  <img src="https://mintcdn.com/tashfiq/uHoRNuLkLShRQ253/images/screenshots/version-output.webp?fit=max&auto=format&n=uHoRNuLkLShRQ253&q=85&s=448a7a9f0c7afc4a7128f973334077ca" alt="charter version output" width="1728" height="554" data-path="images/screenshots/version-output.webp" />
</Frame>

## Flags

<ResponseField name="--short" type="boolean">
  Print only the version number. Bypasses format rendering entirely — `--format` is ignored when `--short` is set.
</ResponseField>

<ResponseField name="--format" type="text | json">
  Output format. Defaults to `text`. Ignored when `--short` is set.
</ResponseField>

## Example Output

```text theme={null}
charter   1.0.0
commit    abc1234f
built     2026-05-18T09:42:00Z
go        1.26.3
platform  darwin/arm64
```

## JSON Output

```json theme={null}
{
  "version": "1.0.0",
  "commit": "abc1234f",
  "date": "2026-05-18T09:42:00Z",
  "go": "1.26.3",
  "platform": "darwin/arm64"
}
```

## Exit codes

| Code | Meaning | When                                                                               |
| ---- | ------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `0`  | Pass    | Version output rendered successfully                                               |
| `2`  | Error   | A usage error — for example, an unknown `--format` value when `--short` is not set |

## Related

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Installation" icon="download" href="/docs/installation">
    Install or upgrade the Charter binary.
  </Card>

  <Card title="doctor" icon="stethoscope" href="/cli/doctor">
    The primary command once the binary is installed.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>