---
name: "version.4th"
section: "8"
platform: "freebsd"
package: "base"
version: "16.0-CURRENT-20261027-61c70dc16a79"
release: "FreeBSD 16.0-CURRENT (2026-10-27)"
platforms: ["freebsd"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/version.4th"
---

# version.4th(8)

FreeBSD version string boot module

## NAME

**version.4th** – FreeBSD version string boot module

## DESCRIPTION

The file that goes by the name of **version.4th** is a set of commands designed to draw the boot loader version at the bottom-right of the screen. The commands of **version.4th** by themselves are not enough for most uses. Please refer to the examples below for the most common situations, and to [loader(8)](/loader/8.md) for additional commands.

Before using any of the commands provided in **version.4th**, it must be included through the command:

```
include version.4th
```

This line is present in the default */boot/menu.rc* file, so it is not needed (and should not be re-issued) in a normal setup.

The commands provided by it are:

- **print\_version**

  Prints the contents of the *loader\_version* environment variable right-justified at the column *loader\_version\_x* and row *loader\_version\_y*.

The environment variables that effect its behavior are:

- *loader\_version*

  Set automatically by [loader(8)](/loader/8.md), but you can override it by setting in [loader.conf(5)](/loader.conf/5.md). This should be the version of boot loader used.

- *loader\_version\_x*

  Sets the desired ending column position of *loader\_version*. Default is 80.

- *loader\_version\_y*

  Sets the desired ending row position of *loader\_version*. Default is 24.

- *loader\_color*

  If set to “NO” (case-insensitive) or “0”, causes the version to be printed without color (default is ANSI Cyan).

## FILES

- */boot/loader*

  The [loader(8)](/loader/8.md).

- */boot/version.4th*

  **version.4th** itself.

- */boot/loader.rc*

  [loader(8)](/loader/8.md) bootstrapping script.

## EXAMPLES

Override [loader(8)](/loader/8.md) version in [loader.conf(5)](/loader.conf/5.md):

```
loader_version="loader 1.1"
```

## SEE ALSO

[loader.conf(5)](/loader.conf/5.md), [color.4th(8)](/color.4th/8.md), [loader(8)](/loader/8.md)

## HISTORY

The **version.4th** set of commands first appeared in FreeBSD 9.0.

## AUTHORS

The **version.4th** set of commands was written by Devin Teske ⟨*dteske@FreeBSD.org*⟩.