---
id: compatibility
requestedLanguage: en
descriptionLanguage: en
---

# Backward Compatibility

- Type: interface evolution practice
- Group: Documentation, risks, and agreements
- Placement: Documentation, risks, and agreements
- [Source](<https://google.aip.dev/180>)

[HTML](https://dpm.cnonim.name/practices/compatibility/)

Change interfaces and behavior while preserving agreed guarantees for existing consumers; define compatibility rules explicitly.

## Relationships

- may be verified through: [Consumer-driven Contract Testing](/practices/contract/en.md) (verification)
- may be supported by: [Parallel Change / Expand–Contract](/practices/expand/en.md) (support)
- helps ensure: [Rollback and Rollback Safety](/practices/rollback/en.md) (support)
- may be versioned according to: [Semantic Versioning](/practices/semver/en.md) (support)

[Show on the map](https://dpm.cnonim.name/#practice=compatibility&lang=en)