LTS (Long-Term Support) marks a software release that the maintainers promise to support with fixes for an extended period, rather than the short window given to standard releases.
Why it matters
Servers and business systems value stability over novelty. An LTS version changes less, so there are fewer surprises, and security patches keep arriving for years. Ubuntu, Node.js, and the Linux kernel all publish LTS lines. The trade-off is older features and slower access to new ones.
Each LTS has an end-of-life date after which fixes stop, so plan the move to the next one.
Example
$ node --version
v20.x (an even-numbered release line, designated LTS by the Node.js project)Check the project's release page for current dates.
Common mistakes
- Treating LTS as support forever; every LTS has an end date.
- Choosing a non-LTS release for a production server.
- Upgrading the day a new LTS arrives instead of waiting for the first point release.
Related
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