About API Versioning Simulator

Simulate API version management with endpoint mapping and deprecation scheduling. Part of the DevTools Surf developer suite. Browse more tools in the API / Config collection.

Use Cases

• Plan a breaking API change without disrupting existing integrations
• Model endpoint deprecation timelines with client migration windows
• Evaluate URL vs header versioning strategies before implementation
• Document version differences for API consumer communication

Tips

• Map each version's endpoints and mark deprecated routes — the simulator shows which clients would break across a version transition
• Configure the sunset date for deprecated endpoints; the tool generates Sunset and Deprecation headers per RFC 8594
• Test version routing by simulating requests with different Accept-version or URL prefix patterns

Fun Facts

• The three dominant API versioning strategies are URL path (/v1/resource), query parameter (?version=1), and custom header (Accept-Version: 1). URL path versioning is the most widely used, despite being considered least RESTful by purists.
• Stripe's API is one of the few that versions by date (e.g., 2023-08-16) rather than integer version. Each customer's API version is pinned to their sign-up date, allowing backwards-compatible rollouts.
• RFC 8594 'The Sunset HTTP Header Field' was published in 2019 to standardize deprecation signaling — 10+ years after versioning became a widespread API pattern, reflecting how long it took the industry to formalize the practice.

FAQ

Which versioning strategy is best?

URL versioning (/v1/) is easiest for developers to understand and test. Header versioning keeps URLs clean but requires header-aware clients. Date versioning (Stripe style) works well but needs robust pinning infrastructure.

When should I bump the API version?

For breaking changes: removing or renaming fields, changing data types, altering authentication, or removing endpoints. Adding new optional fields or endpoints is non-breaking and does not require a version bump.

How long should I maintain deprecated versions?

Industry norms range from 6 months (fast-moving startups) to 2+ years (enterprise APIs). Monitor actual usage of deprecated endpoints before sunsetting — some clients are slow to migrate.