# Breaking API Change

> Changing an API in a way that violates its published contract, breaking existing clients.

Record: `lex:breaking-api-change`
Kind: anti-pattern
Layer: [Contracts Core](https://banes-lab.com/records/layer/contracts-core.md)
Canonical: https://banes-lab.com/ontology/lexicon#lex-breaking-api-change

## category

- [Contracts / Interfaces / Compatibility](https://banes-lab.com/records/lex-category/contracts-interfaces-compatibility.md)

## referenced-by

- [API Contract](https://banes-lab.com/records/arch/api-contract.md)