Editing Backward compatibility (section)

{{Short description|Technological ability to interact with older technologies}}
[[File:Wii-gamecube-compatibility.jpg|thumb|The [[Wii]] features backward compatibility with its predecessor, the [[GameCube]], having the ability to run its discs and use its controllers and memory cards.<br>Later versions of the system from 2011 onwards removed the controller and memory card slots which effectively removed this ability, however the motherboard still has the pads for them and can be soldered back in with modification.]]

In [[telecommunications]] and [[computing]], '''backward compatibility''' (or '''backwards compatibility''') is a property of an [[operating system]], software, real-world product, or [[technology]] that allows for [[interoperability]] with an older [[legacy system]], or with [[Input/output|input]] designed for such a system.

Modifying a system in a way that does not allow backward compatibility is sometimes called "[[wikt:breaking change|breaking]]" backward compatibility.<ref name="Belleflamme">{{citation|title=Industrial Organization: Markets and Strategies|first1=Paul|last1=Belleflamme|first2=Martin|last2=Peitz|date=2010|publisher=Cambridge University Press|isbn=9780521862998|chapter=Strategies in standard wars}}</ref> Such breaking usually incurs various types of costs, such as [[Switching barriers|switching cost]].

A complementary concept is ''[[forward compatibility]]''; a design that is forward-compatible usually has a [[Technology roadmap|roadmap]] for compatibility with future standards and products.<ref name="Zeldman">{{cite book|title=Designing with Web Standards|first=Jeffrey|last=Zeldman|year=2006|publisher=Peachpit Press|isbn=0-321-38555-1|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZCPWYFoWaMIC&q=compatibility|pages=15–16}}</ref>