When and How Do You Version Your API?

API versioning is a crucial consideration for developers, as it involves maintaining stability in the "contract" between API providers and consumers while accommodating any necessary changes. The text discusses the importance of deciding when and how to implement versioning strategies, suggesting that APIs should be treated as contracts that should ideally remain unbroken, but acknowledges that breaking changes may sometimes be necessary, requiring a new version release. It outlines non-breaking changes, such as adding new fields, which can be handled with a minor version update, while breaking changes, such as renaming fields or changing payload structures, necessitate a major version update. The text also describes different versioning approaches, including resource, URI, and hostname versioning, each with its own advantages and challenges, emphasizing that API versions should primarily focus on the major number to maintain simplicity. It underscores the importance of clear communication and planning in managing API versions to ensure a smooth transition for API consumers.