"workspace:*" vs "*" in package.json's dependencies

[yamcodes]

Summary

1. What is the difference between listing "workspace:*" and "*" in the version field of a cross-referenced package?
2. Is this notation reserved for internal packages, or is it applicable for external packages as well?

Additional information

No response

Example

No response

[anthonyshew]

workspace:* is a protocol specific to pnpm and later versions of yarn to reference Internal Packages. It will never reach out to npm for a package with the name being asked for.

* means "any version" and can reference either External Dependencies or Internal Packages in npm and early yarn. This makes it's usage somewhat murky so your confusion is understandable.