Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources (FHIR) Proficiency Practice Exam

FHIR uses Semantic Versioning to communicate how changes in releases affect compatibility. In Semantic Versioning, version numbers follow MAJOR.MINOR.PATCH. A major version change signals breaking changes to the specification or its resources, meaning clients may need to adapt to the new model. A minor version adds new features or resources in a backwards-compatible way, so existing clients can continue to operate but can opt-in to new functionality. A patch version fixes bugs or makes small, backwards-compatible improvements without changing behavior.

This approach helps implementers assess upgrade risk and plan testing, because the version conveys the level of impact you can expect when moving to a newer release. Other schemes—calendar-based, serial-only, or incremental without meaningful semantics—don’t communicate how compatibility is affected, which is crucial for reliable interoperability.