How to determine dependency versions in the main pom.xml file when using Maven?

In Maven, dependency versions are usually specified in the main pom.xml file within the <dependency> tag through the <version> element. For example:

<dependency>
    <groupId>org.springframework</groupId>
    <artifactId>spring-context</artifactId>
    <version>5.3.20</version>
</dependency>

For convenience and version management, <properties> are often used, where versions are set as variables and then referenced:

<properties>
    <spring.version>5.3.20</spring.version>
</properties>

<dependency>
    <groupId>org.springframework</groupId>
    <artifactId>spring-context</artifactId>
    <version>${spring.version}</version>
</dependency>

This makes updating versions and maintaining consistency in the project easier.