How do you version REST APIs properly while maintaining backward compatibility?
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How do you version REST APIs properly while maintaining backward compatibility?
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Jignesh KumarPosted Nov 17, 2025, 3:55 AM
Hello mominul,
Versioning REST APIs while ensuring backward compatibility is a critical architectural practice for maintaining long-term system stability.
Here are the different approaches to versioning REST APIs:
Use URL versioning for most public APIs
Use header versioning for enterprise-level, long-lived APIs
Keep old versions alive for at least 6–18 months
Always maintain backward compatibility within the same version
Avoid too many versions—obsolete versions increase maintenance cost