---
title: "Backward Compatibility and Standards Compliance | Microsoft Docs"
ms.custom: ""
ms.date: "01/19/2017"
ms.prod: sql
ms.prod_service: connectivity
ms.reviewer: ""
ms.technology: connectivity
ms.topic: conceptual
helpviewer_keywords: 
  - "backward compatibility [ODBC], standards compliance"
  - "compatibility [ODBC], standards compliance"
  - "standards compliance [ODBC]"
ms.assetid: b5eee7be-28ed-4467-8cf1-2205e2010a53
author: David-Engel
ms.author: v-daenge
---
# Backward Compatibility and Standards Compliance
Backward compatibility is the ability of newer ODBC components to work with old ODBC components. The following sections discuss how these components are affected by the changes in ODBC *3.x*. The information contained in them primarily addresses the writing of an ODBC *3.x* application and how backward compatibility issues are handled by ODBC drivers. For specific guidelines about how backward compatibility issues affect the writing of an ODBC *3.x* driver, see [Appendix G: Driver Guidelines for Backward Compatibility](../../../odbc/reference/appendixes/appendix-g-driver-guidelines-for-backward-compatibility.md).  
  
 This section contains the following topics.  
  
-   [Affected ODBC Components](../../../odbc/reference/develop-app/affected-odbc-components.md)  
  
-   [Types of Changes](../../../odbc/reference/develop-app/types-of-changes.md)  
  
-   [Application/Driver Compatibility](../../../odbc/reference/develop-app/application-and-driver-compatibility.md)  
  
-   [New Features](../../../odbc/reference/develop-app/new-features.md)  
  
-   [Duplicated Features](../../../odbc/reference/develop-app/duplicated-features.md)  
  
-   [Behavioral Changes](../../../odbc/reference/develop-app/behavioral-changes.md)  
  
-   [Writing ODBC 3.x Applications](../../../odbc/reference/develop-app/writing-odbc-3-x-applications.md)  
  
-   [Writing ODBC 3.x Drivers](../../../odbc/reference/develop-app/writing-odbc-3-x-drivers.md)