how do i update high sierra 10.13.6 to catalina?

The model year of an iMac is available at Apple menu > About This Mac.

A late 2009 through mid 2011 iMac can be upgraded to High Sierra 10.13.6 but no later version. See: How to download and install macOS - Apple Support

A late 2012 through late 2013 iMac can be upgraded to Catalina 10.15.7 but no later. See: How to download and install macOS - Apple Support

A mid 2014 and late 2014 iMac can be upgraded to the latest version of Big Sur macOS 11 but no later. See: How to download and install macOS - Apple Support

A late 2015 iMac can be upgraded to the latest version of Monterey macOS 12 but no later. See: How to download and install macOS - Apple Support

A 2017 iMac can be upgraded to the latest version of Ventura macOS 13 but no later. See: How to download and install macOS - Apple Support  

A 2019 or later iMac can be upgraded to the current version of Sonoma macOS 14. See:How to upgrade to macOS Sonoma - Apple Support

If you can upgrade your Mac to Catalina or later, and do:

• 32-bit applications will stop working
• iTunes will go away, replaced by separate apps: What happened to iTunes? - Apple Support
• You'll be able to run the current version of Firefox, instead of the 115 ESR release available for High Sierra.