Schema compatibility

Schema compatibility defines whether applications with a newer schema can read data written with an older schema, and vice versa.

Schema Registry uses the Confluent Schema Registry standard, which supports these compatibility types:

• BACKWARD_COMPATIBILITY: Applications with a newer schema can read data written in the previous schema version.
• BACKWARD_TRANSITIVE_COMPATIBILITY: Applications with a newer schema can read data written in any earlier schema version.
• FORWARD_COMPATIBILITY: Applications with an older schema can read data written in the new schema.
• FORWARD_TRANSITIVE_COMPATIBILITY: Applications with any older schema can read data written in the new schema.
• FULL_COMPATIBILITY: Both backward and forward compatibility apply.
• FULL_TRANSITIVE_COMPATIBILITY: Both transitive backward and transitive forward compatibility apply.
• NONE: No compatibility check is performed.

For more information about compatibility types, see this Confluent Schema Registry article.

Schema Registry supports schema compatibility checks. You can specify the compatibility type for schema checks in the Compatibility check level parameter and set the check rules in the Compatibility check policy for JSON parameter. The compatibility type also affects how data schemas evolve.

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Understanding JSON Schema Compatibility by Robert Yokota