Backend
Backend API Versioning Strategies
Version APIs with clear compatibility rules, not ad hoc endpoint forks.
Pick one compatibility model
Versioning succeeds when teams define what ‘compatible’ means. Most failures come from undocumented behavior changes rather than URL naming.
- Contract-first changes for additive evolution.
- Breaking changes behind explicit major versions.
- Deprecation policy with announced timelines.
Route and header versioning tradeoffs
Path versioning improves clarity and operational debugging. Header-based versioning can reduce URL churn but requires stricter tooling and observability.
Migration playbook
- Dual-run old and new versions during transition.
- Log version usage by client and endpoint.
- Block sunset only after measurable migration completion.