# Breaking API Change

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

Record: `lexicon: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#lexicon-breaking-api-change

Listed in [Lexicon terms](https://banes-lab.com/api/records/lexicon.md), after [Ad-Hoc Payloads](https://banes-lab.com/records/lexicon/ad-hoc-payloads.md) and before [Breaking Change](https://banes-lab.com/records/lexicon/breaking-change.md).

## Category

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

## Negated by

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

## Linked from

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