diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index e1e605e4..54e514c3 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ const engine = require("php-parser");
 // initialize a new parser instance
 const parser = new engine({
   // some options :
+  version: "8.4", // specify the PHP version to parse
   parser: {
     extractDoc: true,
     php7: true,
diff --git a/src/index.js b/src/index.js
index 8e9b734d..c94191cc 100644
--- a/src/index.js
+++ b/src/index.js
@@ -10,6 +10,8 @@ const parser = require("./parser");
 const tokens = require("./tokens");
 const AST = require("./ast");
 
+const DEFAULT_PHP_VERSION = "8.4";
+
 /**
  * @private
  */
@@ -43,10 +45,10 @@ function combine(src, to) {
  * @example
  * var parser = require('php-parser');
  * var instance = new parser({
+ *   version: 704 // or '7.4'
  *   parser: {
  *     extractDoc: true,
  *     suppressErrors: true,
- *     version: 704 // or '7.4'
  *   },
  *   ast: {
  *     withPositions: true
@@ -81,30 +83,40 @@ const Engine = function (options) {
       if (!options.lexer) {
         options.lexer = {};
       }
-      if (options.parser.version) {
-        if (typeof options.parser.version === "string") {
-          let version = options.parser.version.split(".");
-          version = parseInt(version[0]) * 100 + parseInt(version[1]);
-          if (isNaN(version)) {
-            throw new Error("Bad version number : " + options.parser.version);
-          } else {
-            options.parser.version = version;
-          }
-        } else if (typeof options.parser.version !== "number") {
-          throw new Error("Expecting a number for version");
-        }
-        if (options.parser.version < 500 || options.parser.version > 900) {
-          throw new Error("Can only handle versions between 5.x to 8.x");
-        }
-      }
     }
     combine(options, this);
-
-    // same version flags based on parser options
-    this.lexer.version = this.parser.version;
   }
+
+  // options.parser.version is deprecated, use options.version instead
+  const versionString = options?.version ?? options?.parser?.version;
+  this.version = normalizeVersion(versionString ?? DEFAULT_PHP_VERSION);
 };
 
+/**
+ * Validate and normalize a version (string or number) to a version number
+ * @private
+ * @param {String|Number} versionString - The version string or number to
+ * validate and normalize, e.g., "7.4", or 704
+ * @return {Number} - The normalized version number, e.g. 704
+ * @throws {Error} - If the version is not a valid number or out of range
+ */
+function normalizeVersion(versionString) {
+  let version = versionString;
+  if (typeof version === "string") {
+    const versionParts = version.split(".");
+    version = parseInt(versionParts[0]) * 100 + parseInt(versionParts[1]);
+    if (isNaN(version)) {
+      throw new Error("Bad version number : " + versionString);
+    }
+  } else if (typeof version !== "number") {
+    throw new Error("Expecting a string or number for version");
+  }
+  if (version < 500 || version > 900) {
+    throw new Error("Can only handle versions between 5.x to 8.x");
+  }
+  return version;
+}
+
 /**
  * Check if the inpyt is a buffer or a string
  * @private
diff --git a/src/lexer.js b/src/lexer.js
index e3e387ac..df55c027 100644
--- a/src/lexer.js
+++ b/src/lexer.js
@@ -30,7 +30,6 @@ const Lexer = function (engine) {
   this.mode_eval = false;
   this.asp_tags = false;
   this.short_tags = false;
-  this.version = 803;
   this.yyprevcol = 0;
   this.keywords = {
     __class__: this.tok.T_CLASS_C,
@@ -150,7 +149,7 @@ Lexer.prototype.setInput = function (input) {
     last_column: 0,
   };
   this.tokens = [];
-  if (this.version > 703) {
+  if (this.engine.version > 703) {
     this.keywords.fn = this.tok.T_FN;
   } else {
     delete this.keywords.fn;
diff --git a/src/lexer/scripting.js b/src/lexer/scripting.js
index 1da761af..6ae0b266 100644
--- a/src/lexer/scripting.js
+++ b/src/lexer/scripting.js
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ module.exports = {
       case "\r\n":
         return this.T_WHITESPACE();
       case "#":
-        if (this.version >= 800 && this._input[this.offset] === "[") {
+        if (this.engine.version >= 800 && this._input[this.offset] === "[") {
           this.input();
           this.attributeListDepth[++this.attributeIndex] = 0;
           this.begin("ST_ATTRIBUTE");
diff --git a/src/lexer/strings.js b/src/lexer/strings.js
index 6bba00bf..c3794a10 100644
--- a/src/lexer/strings.js
+++ b/src/lexer/strings.js
@@ -159,7 +159,7 @@ module.exports = {
     let indentation = 0;
     let leading_ch = this._input[offset - 1];
 
-    if (this.version >= 703) {
+    if (this.engine.version >= 703) {
       while (leading_ch === "\t" || leading_ch === " ") {
         if (leading_ch === " ") {
           indentation_uses_spaces = true;
@@ -188,7 +188,7 @@ module.exports = {
     ) {
       const ch = this._input[offset - 1 + this.heredoc_label.length];
       if (
-        (this.version >= 703
+        (this.engine.version >= 703
           ? valid_after_heredoc_73
           : valid_after_heredoc
         ).includes(ch)
diff --git a/src/lexer/tokens.js b/src/lexer/tokens.js
index 638834da..397a4485 100644
--- a/src/lexer/tokens.js
+++ b/src/lexer/tokens.js
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ module.exports = {
     let id = this.keywords[token];
     if (typeof id !== "number") {
       if (token === "yield") {
-        if (this.version >= 700 && this.tryMatch(" from")) {
+        if (this.engine.version >= 700 && this.tryMatch(" from")) {
           this.consume(5);
           id = this.tok.T_YIELD_FROM;
         } else {
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ module.exports = {
 
     // https://github.com/php/php-src/blob/master/Zend/zend_language_scanner.l#L1546
     if (id === this.tok.T_ENUM) {
-      if (this.version < 801) {
+      if (this.engine.version < 801) {
         return this.tok.T_STRING;
       }
       const initial = this.offset;
@@ -224,8 +224,11 @@ module.exports = {
       return "!";
     },
     "?"() {
-      if (this.version >= 700 && this._input[this.offset] === "?") {
-        if (this.version >= 704 && this._input[this.offset + 1] === "=") {
+      if (this.engine.version >= 700 && this._input[this.offset] === "?") {
+        if (
+          this.engine.version >= 704 &&
+          this._input[this.offset + 1] === "="
+        ) {
           this.consume(2);
           return this.tok.T_COALESCE_EQUAL;
         } else {
@@ -234,7 +237,7 @@ module.exports = {
         }
       }
       if (
-        this.version >= 800 &&
+        this.engine.version >= 800 &&
         this._input[this.offset] === "-" &&
         this._input[this.offset + 1] === ">"
       ) {
@@ -260,7 +263,7 @@ module.exports = {
         return this.tok.T_SL;
       } else if (nchar === "=") {
         this.input();
-        if (this.version >= 700 && this._input[this.offset] === ">") {
+        if (this.engine.version >= 700 && this._input[this.offset] === ">") {
           this.input();
           return this.tok.T_SPACESHIP;
         } else {
diff --git a/src/parser.js b/src/parser.js
index 5e5ef1fa..6231e774 100644
--- a/src/parser.js
+++ b/src/parser.js
@@ -30,13 +30,13 @@ function isNumber(n) {
  */
 const Parser = function (lexer, ast) {
   this.lexer = lexer;
+  this.engine = lexer.engine;
   this.ast = ast;
   this.tok = lexer.tok;
   this.EOF = lexer.EOF;
   this.token = null;
   this.prev = null;
   this.debug = false;
-  this.version = 803;
   this.extractDoc = false;
   this.extractTokens = false;
   this.suppressErrors = false;
diff --git a/src/parser/array.js b/src/parser/array.js
index 7499a6c9..acf21b40 100644
--- a/src/parser/array.js
+++ b/src/parser/array.js
@@ -82,7 +82,10 @@ module.exports = {
       this.next();
       byRef = true;
       value = this.read_variable(true, false);
-    } else if (this.token === this.tok.T_ELLIPSIS && this.version >= 704) {
+    } else if (
+      this.token === this.tok.T_ELLIPSIS &&
+      this.engine.version >= 704
+    ) {
       this.next();
       if (this.token === "&") {
         this.error();
diff --git a/src/parser/class.js b/src/parser/class.js
index 8e2311c4..c7b91e7b 100644
--- a/src/parser/class.js
+++ b/src/parser/class.js
@@ -136,9 +136,9 @@ module.exports = {
       } else if (
         allow_variables &&
         (this.token === this.tok.T_VARIABLE ||
-          (this.version >= 801 && this.token === this.tok.T_READ_ONLY) ||
+          (this.engine.version >= 801 && this.token === this.tok.T_READ_ONLY) ||
           // support https://wiki.php.net/rfc/typed_properties_v2
-          (this.version >= 704 &&
+          (this.engine.version >= 704 &&
             (this.token === "?" ||
               this.token === this.tok.T_ARRAY ||
               this.token === this.tok.T_CALLABLE ||
@@ -228,7 +228,7 @@ module.exports = {
     }
 
     const [nullable, type] =
-      this.version >= 803 ? this.read_optional_type() : [false, null];
+      this.engine.version >= 803 ? this.read_optional_type() : [false, null];
 
     const result = this.node("classconstant");
     const items = this.read_list(
@@ -246,7 +246,7 @@ module.exports = {
         let value = null;
         if (
           this.token === this.tok.T_STRING ||
-          (this.version >= 700 && this.is("IDENTIFIER"))
+          (this.engine.version >= 700 && this.is("IDENTIFIER"))
         ) {
           constName = this.node("identifier");
           const name = this.text();
@@ -565,7 +565,7 @@ module.exports = {
         this.next();
         if (
           this.token === this.tok.T_STRING ||
-          (this.version >= 700 && this.is("IDENTIFIER"))
+          (this.engine.version >= 700 && this.is("IDENTIFIER"))
         ) {
           trait = method;
           method = this.node("identifier");
@@ -599,7 +599,7 @@ module.exports = {
 
       if (
         this.token === this.tok.T_STRING ||
-        (this.version >= 700 && this.is("IDENTIFIER"))
+        (this.engine.version >= 700 && this.is("IDENTIFIER"))
       ) {
         alias = this.node("identifier");
         const name = this.text();
diff --git a/src/parser/expr.js b/src/parser/expr.js
index 3d73a15f..d3695569 100644
--- a/src/parser/expr.js
+++ b/src/parser/expr.js
@@ -352,7 +352,10 @@ module.exports = {
 
       case this.tok.T_NEW:
         expr = this.read_new_expr();
-        if (this.token === this.tok.T_OBJECT_OPERATOR && this.version < 804) {
+        if (
+          this.token === this.tok.T_OBJECT_OPERATOR &&
+          this.engine.version < 804
+        ) {
           this.raiseError(
             "New without parenthesis is not allowed before PHP 8.4",
           );
@@ -394,7 +397,7 @@ module.exports = {
         return this.read_expr_cast("unset");
 
       case this.tok.T_THROW: {
-        if (this.version < 800) {
+        if (this.engine.version < 800) {
           this.raiseError("PHP 8+ is required to use throw as an expression");
         }
         const result = this.node("throw");
@@ -444,7 +447,7 @@ module.exports = {
         this.next();
         if (
           this.token === this.tok.T_FUNCTION ||
-          (this.version >= 704 && this.token === this.tok.T_FN)
+          (this.engine.version >= 704 && this.token === this.tok.T_FN)
         ) {
           // handles static function
           return this.read_inline_function([0, 1, 0], attrs);
@@ -595,7 +598,7 @@ module.exports = {
     this.next();
     let right;
     if (this.token === this.tok.T_NEW) {
-      if (this.version >= 700) {
+      if (this.engine.version >= 700) {
         this.error();
       }
       right = this.read_new_expr();
@@ -628,7 +631,7 @@ module.exports = {
       return result;
     }
     // introduced in PHP 7.4
-    if (!this.version >= 704) {
+    if (!this.engine.version >= 704) {
       this.raiseError("Arrow Functions are not allowed");
     }
     // as an arrowfunc
@@ -667,7 +670,7 @@ module.exports = {
   read_match_expression() {
     const node = this.node("match");
     this.expect(this.tok.T_MATCH) && this.next();
-    if (this.version < 800) {
+    if (this.engine.version < 800) {
       this.raiseError("Match statements are not allowed before PHP 8");
     }
     let cond = null;
diff --git a/src/parser/function.js b/src/parser/function.js
index 2cde2d60..35b2727b 100644
--- a/src/parser/function.js
+++ b/src/parser/function.js
@@ -84,11 +84,11 @@ module.exports = {
     if (type !== 1) {
       const nameNode = this.node("identifier");
       if (type === 2) {
-        if (this.version >= 700) {
+        if (this.engine.version >= 700) {
           if (this.token === this.tok.T_STRING || this.is("IDENTIFIER")) {
             name = this.text();
             this.next();
-          } else if (this.version < 704) {
+          } else if (this.engine.version < 704) {
             this.error("IDENTIFIER");
           }
         } else if (this.token === this.tok.T_STRING) {
@@ -98,11 +98,11 @@ module.exports = {
           this.error("IDENTIFIER");
         }
       } else {
-        if (this.version >= 700) {
+        if (this.engine.version >= 700) {
           if (this.token === this.tok.T_STRING) {
             name = this.text();
             this.next();
-          } else if (this.version >= 704) {
+          } else if (this.engine.version >= 704) {
             if (!this.expect("(")) {
               this.next();
             }
@@ -178,7 +178,7 @@ module.exports = {
       result.push(item());
       if (this.token == ",") {
         this.next();
-        if (this.version >= 800 && this.token === ")") {
+        if (this.engine.version >= 800 && this.token === ")") {
           return result;
         }
       } else if (this.token == ")") {
@@ -258,7 +258,7 @@ module.exports = {
     let attrs = [];
     if (this.token === this.tok.T_ATTRIBUTE) attrs = this.read_attr_list();
 
-    if (this.version >= 801 && this.token === this.tok.T_READ_ONLY) {
+    if (this.engine.version >= 801 && this.token === this.tok.T_READ_ONLY) {
       if (is_class_constructor) {
         this.next();
         readonly = true;
@@ -273,7 +273,7 @@ module.exports = {
 
     if (
       !readonly &&
-      this.version >= 801 &&
+      this.engine.version >= 801 &&
       this.token === this.tok.T_READ_ONLY
     ) {
       if (is_class_constructor) {
@@ -336,7 +336,10 @@ module.exports = {
     // is the current token a:
     // - | for union type
     // - & for intersection type (> php 8.1)
-    while (this.token === "|" || (this.version >= 801 && this.token === "&")) {
+    while (
+      this.token === "|" ||
+      (this.engine.version >= 801 && this.token === "&")
+    ) {
       const nextToken = this.peek();
 
       if (
@@ -400,7 +403,7 @@ module.exports = {
     let result = [];
     this.expect("(") && this.next();
     if (
-      this.version >= 801 &&
+      this.engine.version >= 801 &&
       this.token === this.tok.T_ELLIPSIS &&
       this.peek() === ")"
     ) {
@@ -453,7 +456,7 @@ module.exports = {
     ) {
       const nextToken = this.peek();
       if (nextToken === ":") {
-        if (this.version < 800) {
+        if (this.engine.version < 800) {
           this.raiseError("PHP 8+ is required to use named arguments");
         }
         return this.node("namedargument")(
diff --git a/src/parser/scalar.js b/src/parser/scalar.js
index 39364473..e2c679cf 100644
--- a/src/parser/scalar.js
+++ b/src/parser/scalar.js
@@ -341,7 +341,7 @@ module.exports = {
       result = result(
         "string",
         false,
-        this.version >= 703 && !this.lexer.heredoc_label.finished
+        this.engine.version >= 703 && !this.lexer.heredoc_label.finished
           ? this.remove_heredoc_leading_whitespace_chars(
               this.resolve_special_chars(text, isDoubleQuote),
               this.lexer.heredoc_label.indentation,
diff --git a/src/parser/try.js b/src/parser/try.js
index 7cccdad8..e32f8119 100644
--- a/src/parser/try.js
+++ b/src/parser/try.js
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ module.exports = {
       this.next().expect("(") && this.next();
       const what = this.read_list(this.read_namespace_name, "|", false);
       let variable = null;
-      if (this.version < 800 || this.token === this.tok.T_VARIABLE) {
+      if (this.engine.version < 800 || this.token === this.tok.T_VARIABLE) {
         variable = this.read_variable(true, false);
       }
       this.expect(")");
diff --git a/src/parser/utils.js b/src/parser/utils.js
index a62ef5d9..ccbc55bc 100644
--- a/src/parser/utils.js
+++ b/src/parser/utils.js
@@ -40,7 +40,11 @@ module.exports = {
   read_function_list(item, separator) {
     const result = [];
     do {
-      if (this.token == separator && this.version >= 703 && result.length > 0) {
+      if (
+        this.token == separator &&
+        this.engine.version >= 703 &&
+        result.length > 0
+      ) {
         result.push(this.node("noop")());
         break;
       }
@@ -48,7 +52,7 @@ module.exports = {
       if (this.token != separator) {
         break;
       }
-      if (this.next().token == ")" && this.version >= 703) {
+      if (this.next().token == ")" && this.engine.version >= 703) {
         break;
       }
     } while (this.token != this.EOF);
diff --git a/src/parser/variable.js b/src/parser/variable.js
index 3036c7b3..27b580ed 100644
--- a/src/parser/variable.js
+++ b/src/parser/variable.js
@@ -94,7 +94,7 @@ module.exports = {
     } else if (
       this.token === this.tok.T_STRING ||
       this.token === this.tok.T_CLASS ||
-      (this.version >= 700 && this.is("IDENTIFIER"))
+      (this.engine.version >= 700 && this.is("IDENTIFIER"))
     ) {
       offset = this.node("identifier");
       name = this.text();
diff --git a/test/version.test.js b/test/version.test.js
index 9d82d1e4..cd90738b 100644
--- a/test/version.test.js
+++ b/test/version.test.js
@@ -1,54 +1,22 @@
 const parser = require("./main");
 
 describe("Test versions", function () {
-  it("unserialize a version string", function () {
-    const test = parser.create({
-      parser: {
-        version: "7.3",
-      },
-    });
-    expect(test.parser.version).toEqual(703);
+  it.each([
+    { version: "7.3", expected: 703 },
+    { version: "7.3.5", expected: 703 },
+  ])("parse version number $version", ({ version, expected }) => {
+    const test = parser.create({ version });
+    expect(test.version).toEqual(expected);
   });
-  it("unserialize a version string - with bugfix ignored", function () {
-    const test = parser.create({
-      parser: {
-        version: "7.3.5",
-      },
-    });
-    expect(test.parser.version).toEqual(703);
-  });
-  it("fail to parse array", function () {
-    expect(
-      parser.create.bind(null, {
-        parser: {
-          version: [701],
-        },
-      }),
-    ).toThrow(new Error("Expecting a number for version"));
-  });
-  it("fail to parse bad version numbers", function () {
-    expect(
-      parser.create.bind(null, {
-        parser: {
-          version: "x.y.z",
-        },
-      }),
-    ).toThrow(new Error("Bad version number : x.y.z"));
-  });
-  it("unhandled version", function () {
-    expect(
-      parser.create.bind(null, {
-        parser: {
-          version: "4.9",
-        },
-      }),
-    ).toThrow(new Error("Can only handle versions between 5.x to 8.x"));
-    expect(
-      parser.create.bind(null, {
-        parser: {
-          version: "9.9",
-        },
-      }),
-    ).toThrow(new Error("Can only handle versions between 5.x to 8.x"));
+
+  it.each([
+    { version: [701], expected: "Expecting a string or number for version" },
+    { version: "x.y.z", expected: "Bad version number : x.y.z" },
+    { version: "4.9", expected: "Can only handle versions between 5.x to 8.x" },
+    { version: "9.9", expected: "Can only handle versions between 5.x to 8.x" },
+  ])("fail to parse version $version", ({ version, expected }) => {
+    expect(() => {
+      parser.create({ version });
+    }).toThrow(new Error(expected));
   });
 });
diff --git a/types.d.ts b/types.d.ts
index a5ad9c93..d057e32e 100644
--- a/types.d.ts
+++ b/types.d.ts
@@ -1037,10 +1037,10 @@ declare module "php-parser" {
    * @example
    * var parser = require('php-parser');
    * var instance = new parser({
+   *   version: 704 // or '7.4'
    *   parser: {
    *     extractDoc: true,
    *     suppressErrors: true,
-   *     version: 704 // or '7.4'
    *   },
    *   ast: {
    *     withPositions: true