Editing Backward compatibility (section)

=== In software ===
{{See also|Binary-code compatibility|DLL hell|Opaque pointer}}
In software development, backward compatibility is a general notion of interoperation between software pieces that will not produce any errors when its functionality is invoked via [[API]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=((etc1M)) |date=2019-12-18 |title=Backward Compatibility in Software Development: What and Why |url=https://www.redstar.be/backward-compatibility-in-software-development-what-and-why/ |access-date=2023-05-13 |website=Red Star IT |language=en-US}}</ref> The software is considered stable when its [[API]] that is used to invoke functions is stable across different versions.<ref name=":0" />

In operating systems, upgrades to newer versions are said to be backward compatible if executables and other files from the previous versions will work as usual.<ref>{{Cite web |title=What is Backward Compatible? |url=https://www.computerhope.com/jargon/b/backcomp.htm |access-date=2023-05-13 |website=Computer Hope |date=December 31, 2022  |language=en}}</ref>

In [[compiler]]s, backward compatibility may refer to the ability of a compiler for a newer version of the language to accept source code of programs or data that worked under the previous version.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/xslt20programmer0000kaym|url-access=registration|page=[https://archive.org/details/xslt20programmer0000kaym/page/123 123]|quote=forward compatibility.|first=Michael|last=Kay|title=XSLT 2.0 Programmer's Reference|publisher=Wiley|date=2004|isbn=0-7645-6909-0}}</ref>

A data format is said to be backward compatible when a newer version of the program can open it without errors just like its predecessor.<ref>{{cite book|title=What is a Good Standard?|chapter-url=http://www.w3.org/People/Bos/DesignGuide/compatibility.html|chapter=Backwards Compatibility|first=Bert|last=Bos|date=2003|access-date=July 12, 2016|archive-date=March 11, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160311205921/http://www.w3.org/People/Bos/DesignGuide/compatibility.html|url-status=live}}</ref>