# BaseCite API Versioning and Deprecation Policy

## Versioning

BaseCite uses URL versioning under `/api/v1/`. Breaking changes require a new `/api/vN/` path. Existing v1 operations remain backward-compatible during the published support window.

## Deprecation

Retiring operations are documented at [the policy page](https://basecite.com/docs/deprecation) and advertise `Deprecation` and `Sunset` response headers at least 90 days before removal. The canonical API contract is [OpenAPI](https://api.basecite.com/api/v1/ai/openapi.json).

## Async jobs

Long-running processing returns HTTP 202 with `job_id`, `status_url`, `Location`, and `Retry-After`. Poll the status URL with GET until a terminal status; do not infer completion from elapsed time.

## Group-operation boundary

BaseCite v1 does not provide a group execution endpoint. Each authenticated operation is scoped to one organization and one upload; unbounded export and enumeration are not supported.