Implement API versioning strategies including URL versioning, header versioning, backward compatibility, deprecation strategies, and migration guides. Use when dealing with API versions, deprecating endpoints, or managing breaking changes.

API Versioning Strategy Table of Contents [Overview]( overview) [When to Use]( when to use) [Quick Start]( quick start) [Reference Guides]( reference guides) [Best Practices]( best practices) Overview Comprehensive guide to API versioning approaches, deprecation strategies, backward compatibility techniques, and migration planning for REST APIs, GraphQL, and gRPC services. When to Use Designing new APIs with versioning from the start Adding breaking changes to existing APIs Deprecating old API versions Planning API migrations Ensuring backward compatibility Managing multiple API versions simultaneously Creating API documentation for different versions Implementing API version routing Quick Start Minimal working example: Reference Guides Detailed implementations in the references/ directory: Guide Contents [Versioning Approaches](references/versioning approaches.md) Versioning Approaches [Backward Compatibility Patterns](references/backward compatibility patterns.md) Backward Compatibility Patterns [Deprecation Strategy](references/deprecation strategy.md) Deprecation Strategy [Migration Guide Example](references/migration guide example.md) Migration Guide Example [Response Structure](references/response structure.md) Response Structure [Date Format](references/date format.md) Date Format, Error Format [JavaScript/TypeScript](references/javascripttypescript.md) JavaScript/TypeScript, Python [GraphQL Versioning](references/graphql versioning.md) GraphQL Versioning [gRPC Versioning](references/grpc versioning.md) gRPC Versioning [Version Detection & Routing](references/version detection routing.md) Version Detection & Routing [Testing Multiple Versions](references/testing multiple versions.md) Testing Multiple Versions [Pattern 1: Version Agnostic Core](references/pattern 1 version agnostic core.md) Pattern 1: Version Agnostic Core, Pattern 2: Feature Flags for Gradual Rollout, Pattern 3: API Version Metrics Best Practices ✅ DO Version from day one (even if v1) Document breaking vs non breaking changes Provide clear migration guides with code examples Use semantic versioning principles Give 6 12 months deprecation notice Monitor usage of deprecated APIs Send deprecation warnings to API consumers Support at least 2 versions simultaneously Use adapters/transformers for version logic Test all supported versions Log which API version is being used Provide migration tooling when possible Be consistent with versioning approach ❌ DON'T Change API behavior without versioning Remove versions without notice Support too many versions ( 3) Use different versioning strategies in same API Break APIs without incrementing version Forget to update documentation Deprecate too quickly (<6 months) Ignore feedback from API consumers Make every change a new version Use version numbers inconsistently

api-versioning-strategy