API Versioning Strategies
| Strategy | Example | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|---|
| URI Versioning | GET /v1/orders |
Explicit and visible; easy to route to different implementations; clear in logs and monitoring | Versions the entire API surface; URL changes break bookmarks and links |
| Header Versioning | Accept: application/vnd.company.v2+json |
URLs stay stable; can version individual resources; follows REST principles | Less visible, harder to discover in docs; tooling support varies |
| Content Negotiation | Accept: application/json; version=2 |
Fine-grained control; standard HTTP mechanism | Complex to implement and document; client libraries may not support easily |
| Query Parameter | GET /orders?version=2 |
Simple for clients; visible in URLs | Pollutes query parameter namespace; can conflict with filtering/pagination |
Recommendation: Use URI versioning for major versions (/v1/, /v2/) when breaking changes occur. Between major versions, make backward-compatible changes only (add optional fields, add endpoints, deprecate without removing).
Major version increment triggers: removing endpoints or fields, changing field types or semantics, changing authentication mechanisms, changing error response format.
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