diff --git a/.github/workflows/testRelease.yml b/.github/workflows/testRelease.yml
index baf7e9c..c78f3c5 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/testRelease.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/testRelease.yml
@@ -9,22 +9,28 @@ on:
     - cron: 0 2 * * 0
 
 jobs:
-  test:
-    name: release
+  test-semantic-latest:
+    name: test-semantic-latest
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     steps:
       - name: Checkout
         uses: actions/checkout@v2
 
       - name: Semantic Release
-        uses: cycjimmy/semantic-release-action@v2
+        uses: ./
         id: semantic
         with:
+          dry_run: true
+          branches: |
+            [
+              'master',
+              {name: 'beta', prerelease: true},
+              {name: 'alpha', prerelease: true}
+            ]
           branch: master
           extra_plugins: |
             @semantic-release/git
             @semantic-release/changelog
-          dry_run: true
         env:
           GITHUB_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
           NPM_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.NPM_TOKEN }}
@@ -36,5 +42,40 @@ jobs:
           echo ${{ steps.semantic.outputs.new_release_major_version }}
           echo ${{ steps.semantic.outputs.new_release_minor_version }}
           echo ${{ steps.semantic.outputs.new_release_patch_version }}
-          echo ${{ steps.semantic.outputs.new_release_notes }}
+
+  test-semantic-v15:
+    name: test-semantic-v15
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    steps:
+      - name: Checkout
+        uses: actions/checkout@v2
+
+      - name: Semantic Release
+        uses: ./
+        id: semantic_v15
+        with:
+          semantic_version: 15
+          dry_run: true
+          branches: |
+            [
+              'master',
+              {name: 'beta', prerelease: true},
+              {name: 'alpha', prerelease: true}
+            ]
+          branch: master
+          extra_plugins: |
+            @semantic-release/git@7
+            @semantic-release/changelog@3
+        env:
+          GITHUB_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
+          NPM_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.NPM_TOKEN }}
+
+      - name: Test Outputs
+        if: steps.semantic.outputs.new_release_published == 'true'
+        run: |
+          echo ${{ steps.semantic.outputs.new_release_version }}
+          echo ${{ steps.semantic.outputs.new_release_major_version }}
+          echo ${{ steps.semantic.outputs.new_release_minor_version }}
+          echo ${{ steps.semantic.outputs.new_release_patch_version }}
+
 
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 3819ffd..df810bf 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -17,8 +17,9 @@ GitHub Action for [Semantic Release](https://github.com/semantic-release/semanti
 
 #### Step3: Add a [Workflow File](https://help.github.com/en/articles/workflow-syntax-for-github-actions) to your repository to create custom automated processes.
 * inputs:
-  * `branch`: [Optional] The branch on which releases should happen. It will override the branch attribute in your configuration file. If the attribute is not configured on both sides, the default is master.
   * `semantic_version`: [Optional] Specify specifying version range for semantic-release. If no version range is specified, latest version will be used by default.
+  * `branches`: [Optional] The branches on which releases should happen. It will override the branches attribute in your configuration file. If the attribute is not configured on both sides, the default is `['+([0-9])?(.{+([0-9]),x}).x', 'master', 'next', 'next-major', {name: 'beta', prerelease: true}, {name: 'alpha', prerelease: true}]`. **Support for semantic-release above v16**. See https://semantic-release.gitbook.io/semantic-release/usage/configuration#branches for more information.
+  * `branch`: [Optional] The branch on which releases should happen. It will override the branch attribute in your configuration file. If the attribute is not configured on both sides, the default is master. **Support for semantic-release older than v16**.
   * `extra_plugins`: [Optional] Extra plugins for pre-install. You can also specify specifying version range for the extra plugins if you prefer.
   * `dry_run`: [Optional] Whether to run semantic release in `dry-run` mode. It will override the dryRun attribute in your configuration file.
 * outputs:
diff --git a/action.yml b/action.yml
index d8c808e..07f84f6 100644
--- a/action.yml
+++ b/action.yml
@@ -5,13 +5,20 @@ branding:
   icon: 'package'
   color: 'orange'
 inputs:
-  branch:
-    description: 'The branch on which releases should happen. It will override the branch attribute in your configuration file. If the attribute is not configured on both sides, the default is master.'
   semantic_version:
-    description: 'Specify specifying version range for semantic-release. If no version range is specified, semantic-release@^15 will be used by default.'
+    required: false
+    description: 'Specify specifying version range for semantic-release. If no version range is specified, latest version will be used by default'
+  branches:
+    required: false
+    description: 'The branches on which releases should happen. It will override the branches attribute in your configuration file. Support for semantic-release above v16. See https://semantic-release.gitbook.io/semantic-release/usage/configuration#branches for more information.'
+  branch:
+    required: false
+    description: 'The branch on which releases should happen. It will override the branch attribute in your configuration file. If the attribute is not configured on both sides, the default is master. Support for semantic-release older than v16.'
   extra_plugins:
+    required: false
     description: 'Extra plugins for pre-install. You can also specify specifying version range for the extra plugins if you prefer.'
   dry_run:
+    required: false
     description: 'Whether to run semantic release in `dry-run` mode. It will override the dryRun attribute in your configuration file'
 outputs:
   new_release_published:
diff --git a/package-lock.json b/package-lock.json
index a65d572..b8262dd 100644
--- a/package-lock.json
+++ b/package-lock.json
@@ -5,9 +5,14 @@
   "requires": true,
   "dependencies": {
     "@actions/core": {
-      "version": "1.2.0",
-      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/@actions/core/-/core-1.2.0.tgz",
-      "integrity": "sha512-ZKdyhlSlyz38S6YFfPnyNgCDZuAF2T0Qv5eHflNWytPS8Qjvz39bZFMry9Bb/dpSnqWcNeav5yM2CTYpJeY+Dw=="
+      "version": "1.2.3",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/@actions/core/-/core-1.2.3.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-Wp4xnyokakM45Uuj4WLUxdsa8fJjKVl1fDTsPbTEcTcuu0Nb26IPQbOtjmnfaCPGcaoPOOqId8H9NapZ8gii4w=="
+    },
+    "@cycjimmy/awesome-js-funcs": {
+      "version": "2.3.0",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/@cycjimmy/awesome-js-funcs/-/awesome-js-funcs-2.3.0.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-HXJrv0S1gzjP9h2cmE57m+0XnVsGIsidPEjxUR5i50iGIxbjEe1EhL6iSh2P1LXdjjbt1U/UHj6n93yzDwt1gw=="
     }
   }
 }
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index f2308db..e8ca28e 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@
   },
   "homepage": "https://github.com/cycjimmy/semantic-release-action#readme",
   "dependencies": {
-    "@actions/core": "^1.2.0"
+    "@actions/core": "^1.2.3",
+    "@cycjimmy/awesome-js-funcs": "^2.3.0"
   }
 }
diff --git a/src/handleOptions.js b/src/handleOptions.js
index 3330708..83fde14 100644
--- a/src/handleOptions.js
+++ b/src/handleOptions.js
@@ -1,29 +1,44 @@
 const core = require('@actions/core');
+const stringToJson = require('@cycjimmy/awesome-js-funcs/typeConversion/stringToJson').default;
 const inputs = require('./inputs.json');
 
 /**
- * Handle Branch Option
+ * Handle Branches Option
  * @returns {{}|{branch: string}}
  */
-exports.handleBranchOption = () => {
-  const branchOption = {};
+exports.handleBranchesOption = () => {
+  const branchesOption = {};
+  const branches = core.getInput(inputs.branches);
   const branch = core.getInput(inputs.branch);
 
-  if (!branch) {
-    return branchOption;
-  }
+  core.debug(`branches input: ${branches}`);
+  core.debug(`branch input: ${branch}`);
 
   const semanticVersion = require('semantic-release/package.json').version;
   const semanticMajorVersion = Number(semanticVersion.replace(/\..+/g, ''));
   core.debug(`semanticMajorVersion: ${semanticMajorVersion}`);
 
+  // older than v16
   if (semanticMajorVersion < 16) {
-    branchOption.branch = branch;
-  } else {
-    branchOption.branches = [branch];
+    if (!branch) {
+      return branchesOption;
+    }
+
+    branchesOption.branch = branch;
+    return branchesOption;
   }
 
-  return branchOption;
+  // above v16
+  const strNeedConvertToJson = branches || branch || '';
+
+  if (!strNeedConvertToJson) {
+    return branchesOption;
+  }
+
+  const jsonOrStr = stringToJson('' + strNeedConvertToJson);
+  core.debug(`Converted branches attribute: ${JSON.stringify(jsonOrStr)}`);
+  branchesOption.branches = jsonOrStr;
+  return branchesOption;
 };
 
 /**
diff --git a/src/index.js b/src/index.js
index 90ff105..99e8d1f 100644
--- a/src/index.js
+++ b/src/index.js
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 const core = require('@actions/core');
-const {handleBranchOption, handleDryRunOption} = require('./handleOptions');
+const {handleBranchesOption, handleDryRunOption} = require('./handleOptions');
 const setUpJob = require('./setUpJob.task');
 const installSpecifyingVersionSemantic = require('./installSpecifyingVersionSemantic.task');
 const preInstallPlugins = require('./preInstallPlugins.task');
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ const release = async () => {
 
   const semanticRelease = require('semantic-release');
   const result = await semanticRelease({
-    ...(handleBranchOption()),
+    ...(handleBranchesOption()),
     ...(handleDryRunOption()),
   });
 
diff --git a/src/inputs.json b/src/inputs.json
index 5f32226..09dbd15 100644
--- a/src/inputs.json
+++ b/src/inputs.json
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 {
-  "branch": "branch",
   "semantic_version": "semantic_version",
+  "branches": "branches",
+  "branch": "branch",
   "extra_plugins": "extra_plugins",
   "dry_run": "dry_run"
 }