Backward compatibility

Backward compatibility is a term used to describe when something, usually technology, is able to be used with older versions of itself (or with older versions of any other technology that it interacts with). This means that when a new version of something is released, older versions of it will still work with the new version. This makes it easier for people and businesses to upgrade their technology without worrying about compatibility problems. For example, if you have an old smartphone that is not compatible with the newest version of the iOS operating system, you would be able to continue using the old version of the software that is compatible with your phone.