Glossary

Major, minor, and patch bumps (API)

Under SemVer, a patch bump signals a bug fix that does not change the API contract. A minor bump signals new backward-compatible functionality — existing consumers can continue without changes. A major bump signals at least one breaking change that requires consumers to update. The test is “would an existing consumer break?” judged from the consumer’s perspective.

Formula: Bug fix, no contract change → patch. New optional field or endpoint → minor. Remove/rename/tighten → major.

Last updated: March 2026