# Versioning and deprecation

The API major version is part of the path. Any compatible API Gateway
implementation that serves `/api/v1` must honor the v1 contract. API contract,
SDK, ConnectPlane application, API Gateway image, and shared-platform versions
are independent identifiers.

Additive, optional changes may ship within v1. Removing an operation or field,
adding a required input, narrowing accepted values, or narrowing a successful
response requires a new major path such as `/api/v2`.

When a major API version is superseded, ConnectPlane will announce its sunset
at least 12 months before removal. The external API changelog and `Deprecation` and
`Sunset` response headers will identify the dates before removal.