breakingchange

Breaking change is a change to a system’s public interface or behavior that is not backward compatible with previous versions. For users relying on the previous interface, such changes may require code updates, configuration changes, or data migrations. Examples include removing or renaming an API endpoint or function, altering parameter order or types, changing default behavior in ways that affect existing workflows, changing the format of returned data, or removing a feature previously documented as supported. Breaking changes can also result from changes in dependencies, such as upgrading a library with incompatible APIs, or changes in configuration schemas.

In software development, breaking changes are typically disclosed in release notes and are often associated with major version increments under semantic versioning. Teams may minimize disruption by deprecating features before removal, providing migration guides, or offering compatibility shims or feature flags to allow users to adapt gradually. Testing strategies include compatibility tests, migration tests, and automated checks to detect potential breaking changes in public APIs.

Impact and planning: breaking changes can affect libraries, frameworks, services, plugins, and third-party integrations. Proper governance, clear communication, and well-documented migration paths help maintain stability for downstream users while enabling evolution of the product.