Maintaining Versions of RESTful APIs

Maintaining versions of RESTful APIs is crucial for ensuring backward compatibility and smooth integration for clients. Here are some common strategies for versioning RESTful APIs:

1. URI Versioning:
   • This is the most straightforward approach where the version number is included in the URI path.
   • Example: http://api.example.com/v1/resource.
2. Query Parameters:
   • The version number is specified as a query parameter in the URL.
   • Example: http://api.example.com/resource?version=1.
3. Custom Request Headers:
   • A custom header is used to specify the version of the API.
   • Example: Accept-version: v1.
4. Accept Header (Content Negotiation):
   • The version is specified in the Accept header using media types.
   • Example: Accept: application/vnd.example.v1+json.
5. Multiple Strategies:
   • Combining multiple versioning strategies to suit different needs and preferences.
   • Example: Using both URI versioning and custom headers.

Each method has its pros and cons, and the choice depends on our specific requirements and the preferences of our development team. It’s also important to document the versioning strategy clearly for our API consumers.

References:

• What is REST API Versioning and How to Create Versions? - REST API Tutorial

• [How to version REST APIs? [5]

  Complete guide on Versioning - Josip Misko](https://josipmisko.com/posts/rest-api-versioning)

• What Is A RESTful API? Explanation of REST & HTTP
• Versioning a REST API - Baeldung
• Best Practices For Our API Versioning Strategy - Akana
• REST API Versioning - A Detailed Guide - unrepo.com